System and method for processing currency bills and substitute currency media in a single device

ABSTRACT

A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and barcoded media. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and a barcode reader for scanning the barcoded media. A controller coupled to the evaluation region controls the operation of the document processing device and receives input from and provides information to a user via a control unit. In some embodiments, the document processing device may have any number of output receptacles, and the control unit allows the user to specify which output receptacle receives which type of document. In some embodiments, an optional coin sorter may be coupled to the document processing device to allow document and coin processing. The document processing device may be coupled to a network to communicate information to devices linked to the network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of (1) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/502,666, entitled “Currency Handling SystemHaving Multiple Output Receptacles,” which was filed on Feb. 11, 2000,and is assigned to the assignee of the present application, and (2) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/562,231, entitled “Currency ProcessingMachine With Multiple Internal Coin Receptacles,” which was filed onApr. 28, 2000, and is assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of documentprocessing systems and, more particularly, to a system and method forprocessing both currency bills and other documents in a single documentprocessing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Manufacturers of slot machines used in casinos and other gamingestablishments are developing coinless redemption slot machines. Luckywinners using these machines will receive their payout in the form of acashout ticket instead of coins or currency bills. The cashout ticket isencoded, typically in the form of a barcode, with a number that isassociated with the payout amount.

[0004] To redeem the payout, the winner may insert the cashout ticketinto a bill validator or bill acceptor which validates the ticket anddispenses the payout amount in cash. The bill validator also acceptscurrency, so when the casino operators empty the validators, the billcartridges may contain a combination of currency bills and cashouttickets.

[0005] Most casinos are equipped with currency processing devices whichrapidly sort, count, and authenticate currency bills. However, thesemachines cannot handle or recognize cashout tickets, so the operatormust manually hand-sort the currency bills from the cashout tickets sothat they can be processed separately. The hand-sorting and manual-entrysteps are both time and labor intensive.

[0006] Other markets besides the gaming market would benefit from adevice that could process both currency and currency substitutes. Forexample, some retailers are placing self-checkout stations at thepoint-of-sale. A customer gathers the products to be purchased andself-scans the products at the self-checkout station without theassistance of a cashier. The customer may pay by credit or debit card orby cash, for example. If paying by cash, the customer typically insertsthe currency bills into a bill acceptor or bill validator at theself-checkout station. However, the customer may also desire to redeemstore coupons, for example, at the point-of-sale. To do so, the customerwould deposit store coupons into a receptacle at the self-checkoutstation. The cartridges in the self-checkout station would thus containboth currency bills and store coupons.

[0007] When the store operators empty the cartridges, they musthand-sort the store coupons from the currency bills and process thestore coupons separately. Again, this hand sorting and separateprocessing is tedious and requires multiple counting machines. A singlemachine that could process both currency bills and store coupons wouldsave time, lower costs, and increase the overall desirability of usingself-checkout stations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a document processing device for processing a stack of currencybills and substitute currency media. Substitute currency media includedocuments which are redeemable for any combination of cash, goods, orservices. One aspect of the present invention is generally directed toan apparatus having at least two sensors, a currency sensor adapted toscan for at least one characteristic of a currency bill and a mediasensor adapted to scan for at least one characteristic of a substitutecurrency medium. Another aspect of the present invention is generallydirected to an apparatus having a single sensor which is adapted to scanfor at least one characteristic of a currency bill and for at least onecharacteristic of a substitute currency medium.

[0009] In a specific aspect of the present invention, the substitutecurrency media include barcodes, the media sensor is a barcode reader,and the characteristic is whether a valid barcode is detectable on thesubstitute currency media. In this specific aspect of the presentinvention, a transport mechanism transports the currency bills andsubstitute currency media, one at a time, from an input receptacle to atleast one output receptacle. A controller controls the operation of thetransport mechanism and the operation of the sensors. In one embodiment,the apparatus includes one output receptacle only. In other aspects ofthe present invention, the device includes more than one outputreceptacle and a control unit. The operator may specify which of theoutput receptacles are to receive which type of documents, or differenttypes of documents may be routed to specific output receptaclesaccording to pre-programmed instructions. For example, currency billsmay be directed to a first output receptacle and substitute currencymedia may be directed to a second output receptacle. A memory coupled tothe controller may store information about the documents processed, suchas the denomination and amounts of currency bills processed, the numberof substitute currency media processed, the number of suspect currencybills processed, the value of substitute currency media processed, andso forth.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there isalso provided a method of processing both currency bills and substitutecurrency media in a single document processing device. A stack ofdocuments including currency bills and substitute currency media arereceived in an input receptacle. These documents are transported, one ata time, past a currency detector and past a media detector, in anyorder. The currency detector scans each document for at least onecharacteristic associated with a currency bill, and the media detectorscans each document for at least one characteristic associated with asubstitute currency medium. The documents are directed to one or moreoutput receptacles, according to pre-programmed or operator-specifiedinstructions. The device may also generate and display information tothe operator via a control unit. The information may include the numberof documents processed, the denominations and amounts of currency billsprocessed, the number of substitute currency media processed, the numberof suspect currency bills processed, and so forth.

[0011] The above summary of the present invention is not intended torepresent each embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention.Additional features and benefits of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description, figures, and claims set forthbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1a is a functional block diagram of a document processingdevice according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0014]FIG. 1b is a functional block diagram of an evaluation region of adocument processing device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a document processing deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front view of a document processing device accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an evaluation region according toone embodiment of the document processing device of the presentinvention;

[0018]FIG. 4b is a side view of an evaluation region according to oneembodiment of the document processing device of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a compact document processingdevice having a single output receptacle according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG.5;

[0021]FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a compact document processingdevice having dual output receptacles according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0022]FIG. 7b is a side cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG.7a;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a document processingdevice coupled to a coin sorting device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a compact coin sorting deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 10a is a perspective view of a funds processing machineaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 10b is a side view of the funds processing machine of FIG.10a which schematically illustrates the various modules present in thefunds processing machine;

[0027]FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a network of documentprocessing machines in communication with a computer network;

[0028]FIG. 12 is a flowchart describing the operation of a documentprocessing device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 13 is a flowchart further describing the operation of adocument processing device according to any embodiment described inconnection with FIG. 12; and

[0030]FIG. 14 illustrates a functional block diagram of a touch/videodisplay according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0031]FIG. 1a is a functional block diagram of a document processingdevice 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thedocument processing device 100 generally includes an input receptacle102, an evaluation region 104, a transport mechanism 106, and an outputreceptacle 108. As explained below, in alternate embodiments, the device100 includes more than one output receptacle 108. The output receptacle108 may also be variously referred to as a reject or offsort pocket orreceptacle. Disposed along the transport path 106 is a currency detector110 and a media detector 112 as functionally illustrated in FIG. 1a. Thecurrency detector 110 and a control unit 116 are connected to acontroller 114, which is adapted to control the operation of the device100 and to communicate information to and from the control unit 116. Forexample, the controller 114 may send display information to and receiveoperator input from the control unit 116. Optionally, the control unit116 may comprise a touch screen which is coupled to the device 100, orit may comprise a combination of a desktop computer or laptop, display,and/or keyboard which are coupled to the device 100. An optional printer120 is shown coupled to the device 100. In an alternate embodiment, thedevice 100 is not coupled to a printer 120.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the device 100 includes acommunications port 118 which is coupled to the controller 114. Thecontroller 114 may comprise one or more processors which are adapted tocontrol specific components in the device 100 and to process informationassociated with specific components in the device 100, the control unit116, or the communications port 118. The communications port 118 mayoptionally be a serial port, a parallel port, a USB port, a wirelessport adapted for wireless communication with a remote device, or anyother suitable I/O port. In an alternate embodiment, the device 100 doesnot include the communications port 118. The controller 114 may furthercomprise memory, such as random access memory or any other suitablememory.

[0033] Although the currency detector 110 is shown to be disposed on oneside of the transport path 106, it is understood that the currencydetector 110 may instead be disposed on the opposite side of thetransport path 106 only or on both sides of the transport path 106. Inthe same manner, the media detector 112 may be disposed on the oppositeside of the transport path 106 only or on both sides of the transportpath 106. These alternate embodiments are described in more detail inconnection with FIG. 1b below.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1a, a stack of currencybills and substitute currency media is provided to the input receptacle102 in any order or in a predetermined order. In one embodiment, theoperator provides a mixed combination of currency bills and substitutecurrency media to the input receptacle 102, which are processed anddelivered to one or more output receptacles. In another embodiment, theoperator provides a stack of currency bills only to the input receptacle102, which are processed and delivered to one or more outputreceptacles, and then a stack of substitute media only to the inputreceptacle 102, which are processed and delivered to one or more outputreceptacles, or vice versa. In this embodiment, the operator may furtherindicate via the control unit 116 which type of document is to beprocessed, and the controller 114 may “deactivate” one or more detectorsin the evaluation region 104. For example, if the operator indicatesthat the type of documents to be processed is currency bills, thecontroller 114 may instruct the media detector 112 to ignore thedocument as it passes along the transport path 106. Alternatively, ifthe operator indicates that the type of documents to be processed issubstitute currency media, the controller 114 may instruct the currencydetector 110 to ignore the document as it passes along the transportpath 106. Alternatively, the currency detector 110 and the substitutecurrency media 112 both detect characteristics of the document passingalong the transport path, and the control unit 116 may alert theoperator of an error condition, such as a substitute currency medium wasdetected in a stack of currency bills, or a currency bill was detectedin a stack of substitute currency media. The operator may set aside thedetected document for later processing.

[0035] As used herein, a U.S. currency bill refers to U.S. legal tender,such as a $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, or $100 note, and a foreigncurrency bill refers to any bank note issued by a non-U.S. governmentalagency as legal tender, such as a Euro, Japanese Yen, or British Poundnote. A “currency bill” can be either a U.S. or foreign currency bill.The terms “currency note” and “bank note,” are synonymous with the term“currency bill.” The term “substitute currency media” refers toredeemable documents. A redeemable document is a document that can be(a) redeemed for cash or (b) exchanged for goods or services or (c)both. Examples of substitute currency media include without limitation:casino cashout tickets (also variously called cashout vouchers orcoupons) such as “EZ Pay” tickets issued by International GamingTechnology or “Quicket” tickets issued by Casino Data Systems; casinoscript; promotional media such as Disney Dollars or Toys 'R Us “GeoffreyDollars”; or retailer coupons, gift certificates, gift cards, or foodstamps. Substitute currency media may include a barcode, and these typesof substitute currency media are referred to herein as “barcodedtickets.” Examples of barcoded tickets 136 include casino cashouttickets such as “EZ Pay” Tickets and “Quicket” cashout tickets, barcodedretailer coupons, barcoded gift certificates, or any other promotionalmedia that includes a barcode. The singular form of “substitute currencymedia” is referred to as “substitute currency medium” or “medium” forshort.

[0036] As used herein, a “document” includes a currency bill or asubstitute currency medium. Likewise, the term “documents” includescurrency bills and/or substitute currency media.

[0037] The term “substitute funds” includes casino script, paper tokens,and barcoded tickets. The term substitute currency media encompassessubstitute funds, such that the term substitute funds defines a subsetof documents encompassed by the term substitute currency media.

[0038] As is known, the dimensions of a U.S. currency bill are about 2.5inches×6 inches (6.5 cm×15.5 cm). All U.S currency bills have the samedimensions, but in many foreign countries, the dimensions from onedenomination to another varies. In addition, certain types of substitutecurrency media such as “EZ Pay” tickets have approximately the samedimensions of U.S. currency, however, it is understood that thedimensions of substitute currency media may vary from type to type. Thedevice 100 of the present invention according to any embodimentdescribed herein is adapted to process documents having the samedimension or documents having varied dimensions.

[0039] Still referring to FIG. 1a, the transport mechanism 106 isadapted to transport the documents, one at a time, through the device100 in the direction of arrow A, past the currency detector 110 and themedia detector 112, and to the output receptacle 108. The currencydetector 110 is adapted to detect one or more predeterminedcharacteristics on a currency bill or on a particular kind of substitutecurrency medium, such as a Disney Dollar, and the media detector 112 isadapted to detect one or more predetermined characteristics on aparticular kind of substitute currency medium, such as a barcode on abarcoded ticket, as explained in more detail in connection with FIG. 1b.The currency detector 110 comprises one or more sensors depending on anumber of variables. The variables relate to whether the device 100 isauthenticating, counting, or discriminating denominations of currencybills, and what distinguishing characteristics of the currency bills arebeing examined, for example, size, thickness, color, magnetism,reflectivity, absorbability, transmissivity, electrical conductivity,serial number, and so forth. The currency detector 110 may also employ avariety of detection means including, but not limited to, anycombination of the following: a size detector, a density sensor, anupper optical scan head, a lower optical scan head, a single orplurality of magnetic sensors, a thread sensor, an infrared sensor, anultraviolet/fluorescent light scan head, or an image scanner. Thesedetection means and a host of others are disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 6,278,795, entitled “Multi-Pocket Currency Discriminator,”which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, andco-pending U.S. patent application Serial No. ______ entitled “ADocument Processing System Using Full Image Scanning,” filed on Sep. 27,2001, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.Examples of discriminating denomination information from a currency billare shown and disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,592,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0040] In the specific case of substitute currency media, the variablesmay also relate to what distinguishing characteristics of the substitutecurrency media are being examined, such as any combination of thefollowing without limitation: a barcode, a magnetic ink characterrecognition (MICR) pattern, characters readable by optical characterrecognition (OCR), including information printed according to the OCR-Aand OCR-B fonts, a magnetic pattern, an optical variable device (OVD)pattern such as a hologram, a magnetic or electrically conductivethread, conductive ink, magnetic ink, an electrically conductivepolymer, perforations, a coded watermark, or other encoded information.The detection of these distinguishing characteristics may be carried outby the media detector 112, which, in alternate embodiments, may employ avariety of detection means including, but not limited to, anycombination of the following: a barcode reader, an optical scan head, amagnetic sensor, a thread sensor, an infrared sensor, anultraviolet/fluorescent light scan head, or an image scanner. Thesedetection means and a host of others are disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 6,278,795, entitled “Multi-Pocket Currency Discriminator,”previously incorporated by reference, and co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______, entitled “A Document Processing SystemUsing Full Image Scanning,” filed on Sep. 27, 2001, also previouslyincorporated by reference, and may be modified in accordance with thepresent invention to detect distinguishing characteristics associatedwith substitute currency media.

[0041]FIG. 1b shows a functional block diagram of a portion of anevaluation region 104 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The evaluation region 104 generally includes a currencydetector 110, a media detector 112, and a controller 114. The evaluationregion 104 may optionally include a second currency detector 122 aand/or a second media detector 124 a which may be disposed on theopposite side of a transport mechanism 106 as shown in FIG. 1b. Thecurrency detector 110 may include any combination of the detection meansidentified above. In the illustrated embodiment, the media detector 112comprises a barcode reader 128 and a mirror 130. Barcode readers arewell known in the art, and will not be described in detail herein.Generally, barcode readers typically use a light beam generated by alaser diode or LED light source to illuminate a barcode label. The laserbeam or LED beam is deflected in a certain pattern across the barcodelabel. The reflected light representing the light and dark bars on abarcode label are processed and then converted into a digital signalrepresenting the barcode pattern. The digital signal is analyzed by acontroller where the signal is decoded into characters (e.g.,alphanumerics and/or punctuation).

[0042] In one embodiment, the barcode reader 128 is an MS-911 barcodereader manufactured by Microscan. In alternate embodiments, otherbarcode readers may be employed, such as, for example, the LM 520,LazerData 8000, LazerData 9000E, or LD12000 barcode readers manufacturedby PSC, Inc., the MS-880, MS-7100 or MS7180 barcode readers manufacturedby Microscan, the Maxiscan 2100 or Maxiscan 3300 barcode readersmanufactured by Intermec, or an LED barcode reader manufactured by WelchAllyn. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to anyparticular barcode reader. The selection of a particular barcode readerdepends on a number of factors, including size constraints in theevaluation region 104 of the document processing device, the particularbarcode symbology to be scanned, and the desired scan rate. For example,the LazerData 9000E, manufactured by PSC, Inc., has scan rates rangingfrom 500 scans per second to 2000 scans per second, and is adapted toscan a linear barcode. The dimensions of the LazerData 9000E areapproximately 3.84″ (D)×2.52″ (L)×2.52″ (W), or 97.5 mm (D)×64 mm (L)×64mm (W). The MS-911 barcode reader has dimensions of approximately 3″(H)×2.13″ (W)×1.63″ (D), or 75 mm (H)×53.5 mm (W)×41 mm (D), and has ascan rate of up to 2000 scans per minute.

[0043] In alternate embodiments, the barcode reader 128 is adapted toscan at least 500barcodes per minute, 800 barcodes per minute, 1000barcodes per minute, 1200 barcodes per minute, and 1500 barcodes perminute.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 1b, the controller114 controls the operation of the barcode reader 128, but in alternateembodiments, a separate barcode controller (not shown) controls theoperation of the barcode reader 128 and is coupled to the controller114. The controller 114 also controls other operations of the documentprocessing device.

[0045] Still referring to FIG. 1b, the media detector 112 optionallyincludes the barcode reader 128 and the mirror (not shown). The mirroris positioned proximate the barcode reader 128 to “lengthen” theeffective distance between the barcode reader 128 and the document to bescanned, in applications where the barcode reader 128 is placed tooclose to the document. As is known, some barcode readers require thatthey be placed within a range of distance from the scanning surface. Ifthe distance is outside the distance range specifications, the barcodereader cannot obtain reliable and accurate readings. In suchapplications, the mirror may be positioned to deflect the light beamfrom the barcode reader 128 onto the document passing along thetransport path 106. In alternate embodiments in which the barcode reader128 is positioned within distance range specifications, the mirror isnot included.

[0046] Still referring to FIG. 1b, a currency bill 134 and a barcodedticket 136 are shown on the transport mechanism 106. In one embodiment,the barcode encodes characters, such as numbers, which are associatedwith certain information. For example, on a casino cashout ticket, thebarcode number may be associated with any combination of the following:a payout amount; a ticket number; identification information associatedwith the slot machine that dispensed the casino cashout ticket, such as,for example, the slot machine number, the time of dispensation, and theamount of payout from the dispensing slot machine during a time period;identification information associated with the winner of the casinocashout ticket; and so forth. On a gift certificate, the barcode numbermay be associated with any combination of the following: a gift amount;a gift certificate number; information about a retailer dispensing thegift certificate; terms and conditions information; and so forth. In analternate embodiment, the barcode encodes a number which is associatedwith a certain discount. For example, on a store coupon, the barcodenumber is typically associated with a promotional discount, such asfifty cents off, or buy one, get one free. The barcode numbers and theircorresponding monetary and discount amounts are typically stored in adatabase. When the barcode number is scanned and identified, thecorresponding amount or discount is queried from the database. Thedatabase may also include information indicative of whether a ticket hasbeen redeemed. For example, to prevent fraudulent use of cashout ticketsin the casino environment, the database may also keep track of whether acashout ticket has been redeemed. In yet other embodiments, the barcodemay encode any combination of numbers, letters, punctuation, or othercharacters. It is understood that a barcode in accordance with anyembodiment shown or described herein may encode characters including anycombination of numbers, letters, punctuation, or other characters.

[0047] Barcodes are well known in the art, and there are numerousbarcode symbologies, such as, for example, Codabar, Code 3 of 9,Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC, EAN 8, EAN 13, Postnet, Planet Code, AztecCode, Code 11, Code 16K, Code 49, Code 93, Code 128, Data Matrix,MaxiCode, 3D or bumpy barcode, to name just a few. These and otherbarcode symbologies encode characters such as numbers, letters, and/orpunctuation. Barcodes can be linear, like the UPC code, 2-D like theMaxiCode, or 3-D like the bumpy barcode. Barcodes are typically blackand white, but they may also be in color. In the illustrated embodimentof FIG. 1b, the barcode reader 128 is capable of scanning a linearbarcode. A linear barcode typically comprises a series of parallel darkbars of varying widths with intervening light spaces, also of varyingwidths. It is expressly understood that the present invention is notlimited to any particular barcode symbology or to any particular barcodereader. In alternate embodiments, multiple barcode readers may bedisposed in the evaluation region 104 to identify different barcodesymbologies. For example, a retailer may accept both store coupons andgift certificates, but the gift certificates may be encoded with adifferent barcode symbology than the store coupons. In such a case, theevaluation region 104 may include two barcode readers, one to identifybarcodes disposed on the gift certificates, and one to identify barcodesdisposed on the store coupons.

[0048] Still referring to FIG. 1b, the currency bill 134 and barcodedticket 136 are transported along the transport mechanism 106 in thedirection of arrow A. In the illustrated embodiment, the currency bill134 and barcoded ticket 136 are first transported past the mediadetector 112 and then past the currency detector 110. However, in analternate embodiment, a document may be first transported past thecurrency detector 110 and then past the media detector 112.Alternatively, the barcode reader 128 and the currency detector 110 maybe incorporated into a single component, such as in a scanner that isadapted to scan one or more selected areas of a document or the entirearea of a document. In this embodiment, the full image scanner scans fora characteristic associated with a currency bill and for acharacteristic associated with a substitute currency medium.

[0049] As explained previously, the currency detector 110 may compriseone or more sensors disposed at various locations along the transportmechanism 106. In the alternative embodiment in which the barcode reader128 is integrated into the currency detector 110, the barcode reader 128may be positioned among the plurality of sensors at any location withinthe currency detector 110 and along the transport mechanism 106.Furthermore, as emphasized previously, the currency detector 110 may bedisposed on either side or both sides of the transport mechanism 106.

[0050] If the barcode reader 128 does not identify a barcode on thecurrency bill 134, the barcode reader 128 provides a “no read”electrical signal to the controller 114 indicating that no barcode wasread or identified in that scan. As used herein, a substitute currencymedium having an unreadable or non-existent barcode may be considered an“invalid” substitute currency medium. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 1b, the transport mechanism 106 transports the currency bill 134 inthe direction of arrow A towards the currency detector 110. The currencydetector 110 evaluates one or more distinguishing characteristics, suchas those specified above, of the currency bill 134. An optional secondcurrency detector 122 a disposed on the opposite side of the transportmechanism 106 may also evaluate one or more distinguishingcharacteristics of the currency bill 134.

[0051] In the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1b, the next documentto be evaluated is the barcoded ticket 136. In FIG. 1b, the barcodedticket 136 is scanned by the barcode reader 128. If the barcode reader128 successfully reads the barcode 138 on the barcoded ticket 136, thebarcode reader 128 provides a “good read” electrical signal to thecontroller 114 indicating that the barcode reader 128 read or identifiedthe barcode 138. As used herein, the term “valid substitute currencymedium” refers to a document having a barcode identified by the barcodereader 128. The barcode reader 128 also provides an electrical signalrepresentative of the barcode pattern 138 to the controller 114. Thecontroller 114 decodes this electrical signal into characters, andstores these characters in memory which may optionally be integrated inthe controller 114 or coupled to the controller 114.

[0052] In one embodiment, once the barcode reader 128 scans a validbarcode on the barcoded ticket 136, the controller 114 instructs thecurrency detector 110 to ignore the barcoded ticket 136. In an alternateembodiment, the controller 114 instructs the currency detector 110 toevaluate the barcoded ticket 136. In this alternate embodiment, if thecontroller 110 receives a signal from the media detector 124 that it hasread a valid barcode and a signal from the currency detector 110 that ithas detected an authentic currency, then the controller 114 provides anerror signal to the operator alerting the operator that an unacceptabledocument has been detected. As used herein, the terms “operator,”“user,” and “customer” are interchangeable.

[0053] As stated above, the controller 114 may include a memory (notshown). In one embodiment, the memory includes master authenticatinginformation. The master authenticating information includes informationabout authenticating characteristics of a currency bill, such as size,thickness, color, magnetism, reflectivity, absorbability,transmissivity, electrical conductivity, serial number, and so forth.The memory may also include master denomination information. The masterdenomination information includes information about denominationcharacteristics of a currency bill. Examples of such characteristics aredisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,592, previouslyincorporated by reference. In another embodiment, the memory includesmedia information, which includes information about the substitutecurrency media. This information may include, in alternate embodiments,any combination of the following: an amount of money associated with amedium, a ticket number of a casino cashout ticket, the charactersencoded on a barcode on a barcoded medium, self-checkout stationidentification information, casino gaming machine information,information about the identity of the person redeeming the redeemabledocument, or the time a medium was dispensed, for example. In thisembodiment, the media information may be periodically updated in thememory via a computer network coupled to the document processing device100, such as described in connection with FIG. 11, or the mediainformation may be periodically updated in the memory via personnel,such as retailer or casino personnel. In the latter embodiment, aninterface would be provided via the control unit 116 to the personnel toreprogram the memory. The memory may be random access memory, flashmemory, EEPROM, or any other suitable rewriteable memory.

[0054] As explained above, the printer 120 may optionally be coupled tothe device 100. When the device 100 is coupled to the printer 120, theprinter 120 may print reports containing information about the documentsprocessed by the device 100, such as the reports described in connectionwith FIGS. 12-13 below. The printer 120 may dispense a redeemabledocument to an operator of the device 100. For example, as explainedbelow, an operator may deposit a stack of documents containing a mixedcombination of currency bills and substitute currency media into thedevice 100. The device 100 processes the stack of documents, and,according to one embodiment, dispenses a barcoded ticket whose barcodeis associated with the total value of documents processed. For example,an operator may deposit $134 of currency bills into the device 100 and$50 worth of redeemable documents. In this example, the device 100 woulddispense a barcoded ticket to the operator with a barcode associatedwith an amount of $184. In another embodiment, the printer 120 printsboth reports and dispenses redeemable documents.

[0055] The document processing device 100 shown and described inconnection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b represents but one of numerousembodiments into which the evaluation region 104 may be incorporated. Itis expressly understood that the document processing device 100 shownand described in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b may be modified inaccordance with numerous other embodiments. As explained next, thedevice 100 may be modified in accordance with any one or more of thefollowing embodiments:

[0056] (1) a multi-pocket document processing device having a pluralityof output receptacles and incorporating any embodiment of the evaluationregion 104 shown or described in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b;

[0057] (2) a document processing device having a single outputreceptacle and incorporating any embodiment of the evaluation region 104shown or described in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b;

[0058] (3) a document processing device having dual output receptaclesand incorporating any embodiment of the evaluation region 104 shown ordescribed in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b;

[0059] (4) any of the foregoing embodiments (1)-(3) may be coupled to acoin sorting device;

[0060] (5) a funds processing device capable of processing bothdocuments and coins and incorporating any embodiment of the evaluationregion 104 shown or described in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b;

[0061] (6) any of the foregoing embodiments (1)-(5) may becommunicatively coupled to a computer network, such as a casino gamingnetwork or a retailer network; or

[0062] (7) any of the foregoing embodiments (1)-(6) may include acontrol unit for receiving operator instructions and displayinginformation to an operator.

Document Processing Device Having Multiple Output Receptacles

[0063] As discussed above, according to one embodiment, the evaluationregion 104 shown and described in connection with FIG. 1b isincorporated into a document processing device having multiple outputreceptacles. In accordance with this embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate several views of a multi-pocket document processing device200. A stack of currency bills and substitute currency media areprovided to an input receptacle 202 in any order or in a predeterminedorder. The currency bills and substitute media may be facing oneorientation or facing mixed orientations. The currency bills andsubstitute currency media are fed, one by one, into a transportmechanism 206. The transport mechanism 206 transports currency bills andsubstitute currency media to one of a plurality of output receptacles208 a-208 h, which may include upper output receptacles 208 a, 208 b, aswell as lower output receptacles 208 c-208 h. Before a document reachesan output receptacle 208, the transport mechanism 206 guides it throughan evaluation region 204 where a document can be, for example, analyzed,authenticated, denominated, counted, validated, and/or otherwiseprocessed. In alternative embodiments of the device 200, the evaluationregion 204 can determine document orientation, document size, or whetherdocuments are stacked upon one another. The results of the above processor processes may be used to determine to which output receptacle 208 adocument is directed. The illustrated embodiment of the documentprocessing device 200 has an overall width, W₁, of approximately 4.87feet (1.46 meters), a height, H₁, of approximately 4.85 feet (1.45meters), and a depth, D₁, of approximately 1.67 feet (0.50 meters).

[0064] In one embodiment, documents are transported, scanned,denominated, authenticated, validated, and/or otherwise processed at arate equal to or greater than 600 bills per minute. In anotherembodiment, documents are processed at a rate equal to or greater than800 bills per minute. In another embodiment, documents are processed ata rate equal to or greater than 1000 bills per minute. In still anotherembodiment, documents are processed at a rate equal to or greater than1200 bills per minute. In yet another embodiment, documents areprocessed at a rate equal to or greater than 1500 bills per minute.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, interposed in the transportmechanism 206, intermediate the evaluation region 204 and the loweroutput receptacles 208 c-208 h, is a document facing mechanismdesignated generally by reference numeral 203. The document facingmechanism 203 is capable of rotating a document (i.e., a currency billor substitute currency medium) 180° so that the face position of thedocument is reversed. That is, if a U.S. currency bill, for example, isinitially presented with the surface bearing a portrait of a presidentfacing down, it may be directed to the document facing mechanism 203,whereupon it will be rotated 180° so that the surface with the portraitfaces up. The leading edge of the document remains constant while thedocument is being rotated 180° by the document facing mechanism 203. Thedecision may be taken to send a document to the document facingmechanism 203 when the selected mode of operation or other operatorinstructions call for maintaining a given face position of documents asthey are processed by the device 200. For example, it may be desirablein certain circumstances for all of the currency bills ultimatelydelivered to the lower output receptacles 208 c-208 h to have thecurrency bill surface bearing the portrait of the president facing up.In such embodiments of the device 200, the evaluation region 204 iscapable of determining the face position of a bill, such that a bill nothaving the desired face position can first be directed to the documentfacing mechanism 203 before being delivered to the appropriate outputreceptacle 208. Further details of a document facing mechanism which maybe utilized for this purpose are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S.Pat. No. 6,074,334, entitled “Document Facing Method and Apparatus,”which issued on Jun. 13, 2000, incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, and may be employed in conjunction with the present inventionsuch as the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Another document facingmechanism which may be employed in another embodiment is disclosed incommonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/503,039, entitled “Two Belt Bill Facing Mechanism,” filed on Feb. 11,2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.Alternative embodiments of the device 200 do not include the documentfacing mechanism 203.

[0066] The document processing device 200 in FIG. 2 may be controlledfrom a separate control unit 216 which has a display/user-interface 217.In one embodiment of the present invention, the display/user-interface217 incorporates a touch panel display which displays informationincluding “functional” keys when appropriate. The display/userinterface217 may be a full graphics display. Alternatively, additional physicalkeys or buttons, such as a keyboard 219, may be employed. The controlunit 216 may be a selfcontained desktop or laptop computer whichcommunicates with the device 200 via a cable 221 In one embodiment, thedevice 200 includes a suitable communications port (not shown) for thispurpose. In another embodiment, the control unit 216 communicates withthe device 200 wirelessly via a wireless modem (not shown). Inembodiments in which the control unit 216 is a desktop computer whereinthe display/user-interface 217 and the desktop computer are physicallyseparable, the desktop computer may be stored within a compartment 225of the device 200. In other alternative embodiments, the control unit216 is integrated into the device 200 so that the control unit 216 iscontained within the device 200. In this embodiment, thedisplay/user-interface 217 may comprise a touch screen or touch paneldisplay that is coupled to the device 200.

[0067] The operator can control the operation of the device 200 throughthe control unit 216. By selecting various user-defined modes throughthe control unit 216, such as via an input device such as a keyboard219, or a switch, button, or touch screen (not shown), the operator candirect currency bills and substitute media into specific outputreceptacles, such as output receptacles 208 a-208 h. Note that fewer ormore output receptacles may be employed in alternate embodiments. Instill other embodiments, the user can select pre-programmed modes orcreate new user-defined modes based on the particular requirements ofthe application. For example, the operator may select a user-definedmode which instructs the device 200 to sort currency bills bydenomination; accordingly, the evaluation region 204 would denominatethe bills and direct one dollar bills into the first lower outputreceptacle 208 c, five dollar bills into the second lower outputreceptacle 108 d, ten dollar bills into the third lower outputreceptacle 208 e, twenty dollar bills into the forth lower outputreceptacle 208 f, fifty dollar bills into the fifth lower outputreceptacle 208 g, and one-hundred dollar bills into the sixth loweroutput receptacle 208 h. The operator may also instruct the device 200to deliver those bills whose denomination was not determined, i.e., nocall bills, to the first upper output receptacle 208 a. In such anembodiment, the upper output receptacle 208 a would function as a rejectpocket. In an alternative embodiment, the operator may instruct thedevice 200 to also evaluate the authenticity of each currency bill. Insuch an embodiment, authentic bills would be directed to the appropriatelower output receptacles 208 c-208 h. Those bills that were determinednot to be authentic, i.e., suspect bills, would be delivered to thesecond upper output receptacle 208 b. A multitude of user defined modesare disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,795, previouslyincorporated by reference, which may be employed in conjunction with thepresent invention such as the device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.According to another embodiment, the device 200 is adapted to processdocuments according to a strapping mode of operation as shown anddescribed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/635,181,entitled “Method of Creating Identifiable Smaller Stacks of CurrencyBills Within a Larger Stack of Currency Bills,” which was filed on Aug.8, 2000, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.According to still another embodiment, the device 200 is adapted toprocess documents according to a disable-pockets mode of operation asshown and described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/688,538, entitled “Currency Handling System Having Multiple OutputReceptacles,” which was filed on Oct. 16, 2000 and is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

[0068] It should be noted that the control unit 216 provides theoperator with a broad range of flexibility in selecting which outputreceptacles receive which documents. For example, the operator mayinstruct the device 200 to sort the currency bills by denomination andto deliver authentic currency bills according to their denomination intoselected ones of the output receptacles 208 c-208 h. The operator mayfurther instruct the device 200 to deliver no call bills and suspectbills into output receptacle 208 a, and to deliver substitute currencymedia into output receptacle 208 b. In addition, the device 200 may beunable to evaluate a particular document because, for example, it isdamaged or excessively worn. The operator may instruct the device 200 todeliver any substitute currency media that cannot be evaluated to theoutput receptacle 108 a. Alternatively, additional output receptacles(not shown) may be employed to receive any combination of no call bills,suspect bills, valid substitute currency media, or invalid substitutecurrency media. The delivery of such documents may occur withoutsuspension of operation of the device 200, or with suspension of theoperation of the device 200, as explained next.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the device 200 is configured so thatwhen the evaluation region 204 is unable to identify certain criteriaregarding a currency bill or substitute currency medium, theunidentified document is flagged and “presented” in one of the outputreceptacles 208 a-208 h, that is, the transport mechanism 206 issuspended or halted so that the unidentified document is located at apredetermined position within one of the output receptacles 208 a-208 h,such as being the last document transported to one of the outputreceptacles. In the case of currency bills, such criteria can includedenominating information, authenticating information, informationindicative of the currency bill's series, or other information theevaluation region 204 is attempting to obtain pursuant to a mode ofoperation. In the case of substitute currency media, such criteria mayinclude, in addition to or exclusive of the criteria mentioned above,whether information, such as a valid barcode, is detected on thesubstitute currency media.

[0070] The user may determine in which output receptacle 208 a-208 h theflagged document is presented according to a selected mode of operation.For example, where the unidentified document is the last documenttransported to an output receptacle 208 a-208 h, it may be positionedwithin a stacker wheel or positioned at the top of the documents alreadywithin the output receptacle 208 a-208 h. While unidentified documentsmay be transported to any output receptacles 208 a-208 h, it may be moreconvenient for the operator to have unidentified documents transportedto one of the upper output receptacles 208 a,b, which are positionedsuch that the operator is able to easily see and/or inspect the documentwhich has not been identified by the evaluation region 204. The operatormay then either visually inspect the flagged document while it isresting on the top of the stack, or the operator may decide to removethe document from the output receptacle 208 in order to examine theflagged document more closely. In an alternative embodiment of thedevice 200, the control unit 216 may communicate to the user via thedisplay/user-interface 217 information identifying which one of theoutput receptacles 108 a-108 h a flagged document is presented.

[0071] The device 200 may be adapted to continue operation automaticallywhen a flagged document is removed from the upper output receptacle 208a,b or, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the device200 may be adapted to suspend or halt operation and require input fromthe operator via the control unit 216. Upon examination of a flaggeddocument by the operator, it may be found that the flagged document isgenuine or valid even though it was not identified as such by theevaluation region 204 or the evaluation region 204 may have been unableto denominate the flagged document. However, because the document wasnot identified, the total value and/or denomination counters will notreflect its value. According to one embodiment, such an unidentifieddocument is removed from the output receptacles 208 and reprocessed orset aside. According to another embodiment, the flagged documents mayaccumulate in the upper output receptacles 208 a,b until the batch ofdocuments currently being processed is completed or the outputreceptacle 208 a,b is full and then reprocessed or set aside. In yetanother embodiment, the control unit 216 of the device 200 includesdenomination keys, such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,790,697, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.Upon inspection of a flagged currency bill, such as a no call bill, theoperator may manually key in the denomination of the bill via adenomination key, and resume operation. In the case of a substitutecurrency media, the operator may manually enter into the device 200 viathe control unit 216 information about the substitute currency media.Such information may include the barcode number when the substitutecurrency media is a barcoded ticket, the “denomination” of thesubstitute currency media, such as a $5 Disney Dollar, the valueassociated with the barcoded ticket, such as $100, and other identifyinginformation.

[0072] According to another embodiment, when a document is flagged, thetransport mechanism may be stopped before the flagged document istransported to one of the output receptacles. Such an embodiment isparticularly suited for situations in which the operator need notexamine the document being flagged; for example, the device 200 isinstructed to first process United States currency and then Britishcurrency pursuant to a selected mode of operation where the device 200processes United States $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 currency billsinto the lower output receptacles 208 c-208 h, respectively. Upondetection of the first British pound note, the device 200 may haltoperation allowing the operator to empty the lower output receptacles208 c-208 h and to make any spatial adjustments necessary to accommodatethe British currency. A multitude of modes of operation which may beemployed in conjunction with the present invention are described inconjunction with bill flagging, presenting, and/or transport halting incommonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/864,423 entitled“Method and Apparatus for Document Processing,” which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0073] In the illustrated embodiment, with regard to the upper outputreceptacles 208 a and 208 b, the second upper output receptacle 208 b isprovided with a stacker wheel 227 for accumulating a number ofdocuments, while the first upper output receptacle 208 a is not providedwith such a stacker wheel. Thus, when, pursuant to a preprogrammed modeof operation or a user-selected mode or other operator instructions, adocument is to be fed to the first upper output receptacle 208 a, theremay be a further instruction to momentarily suspend operation of thedevice 200 for the operator to inspect and remove the document. On theother hand, it may be possible to allow a number of documents toaccumulate in the first upper output receptacle 208 a before operationis suspended or halted. Similarly, the second upper output receptacle208 b may be utilized initially as an additional one of the lower outputreceptacles 208 c-208 h. However, in the illustrated embodiment shown inFIG. 2, there is no storage cassette associated with the second upperoutput receptacle 208 b. Therefore, when the second upper outputreceptacle 208 b is full, operation may be suspended to remove thedocuments at such time as yet further documents are directed to thesecond upper output receptacle 208 b in accordance with the selectedmode of operation or other operator instructions. According to analternative embodiment of the device 200, both the first and the secondupper output receptacles 208 a, 208 b are equipped with a stacker wheel.According to such an embodiment both the upper output receptacles 208 a,208 b may also function as the lower output receptacle 208 c-208 h,thereby allowing a number of documents to be stacked therein. In yetanother embodiment, the first upper output receptacle 208 a and thesecond upper output receptacle 208 b are not provided with a stackerwheel 227.

[0074]FIGS. 4a and 4 b illustrate the evaluation region 204 according toone embodiment of the device 200. The evaluation region 204 can beopened for service, access to sensors, to clear document jams, etc., asshown in FIG. 4a. Additional details of the evaluation region 204 areprovided with reference to the evaluation region 104 shown and describedin FIG. 1b. As previously explained, the evaluation region 204 shown inFIG. 4a may employ any combination of the following detection meanswithout limitation in one or more alternate embodiments: a sizedetection and density sensor 408, a lower optical scan head 410, anupper optical scan head 412, a single or multitude of magnetic sensors414, a thread sensor 416, an infrared sensor (not shown), anultraviolet/fluorescent light scan head 418, an upper media detector 403a, or a lower media detector 403 b. As noted in connection with FIG. 1b,these detection means may be disposed in any order and on either or bothsides of the transport plate 400 without departing from the presentinvention. These detection means and a host of others are disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,795, entitled “Multi-PocketCurrency Discriminator,” previously incorporated by reference, and U.S.patent application Serial No. ______, entitled “A Document ProcessingSystem Using Full Image Scanning,” filed on Sep. 27, 2001, alsopreviously incorporated by reference. As noted above, in the specificcase of substitute currency media, the variables may also relate to whatdistinguishing characteristics of the substitute currency media arebeing examined, such as any combination of the following withoutlimitation: a barcode, a MICR pattern, OCR-readable information,including information printed according to the OCR-A and OCR-B fonts, amagnetic pattern, an OVD pattern such as a hologram, a magnetic threador an electrically conductive thread, conductive ink, or an electricallyconductive polymer.

[0075] The direction of document travel through the evaluation region204 is indicated by arrow A in FIG. 4a. The documents (i.e., currencybills and/or substitute currency media) are positively driven along atransport plate 400 through the evaluation region 204 by means of atransport roll arrangement comprising both driven rollers 402 andpassive rollers 404. The rollers 402 are driven by a motor (not shown)via a belt 401. Passive rollers 404 are mounted in such a manner as tobe freewheeling about their respective axis and biased intocounter-rotating contact with the corresponding driven rollers 402. Thedriven and passive rollers 402, 404 are mounted so that they aresubstantially coplanar with the transport plate 400. The transport rollarrangement also includes compressible rollers 406 to aid in maintainingthe documents flat against the transport plate 400. Maintaining thedocument flat against the transport plate 400 so that the document liesflat when transported past the sensors enhances the overall reliabilityof the evaluation processes. A similar transport arrangement isdisclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,963, entitled “Methodand Apparatus for Discriminating and Counting Documents,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0076] Additional details concerning the input receptacle 202, transportmechanism 206, and diverters 237 are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/502,666, entitled “Currency HandlingSystem Having Multiple Output Receptacles,” filed on Feb. 11, 2000,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0077] Referring back to FIG. 2, the illustrated embodiment of thedevice 200 includes a total of six lower output receptacles 208 c-208 h.More specifically, each of the lower output receptacles 208 c-208 hincludes a first portion designated as an escrow compartment 205 a-205 fand a second portion designated as a storage cassette 207 a-207 fTypically, documents are initially directed to the escrow compartments205, and thereafter at specified times or upon the occurrence ofspecified events, which may be selected or programmed by an operator,documents are then fed to the storage cassettes 207. The storagecassettes 207 are removable and replaceable, such that stacks ofdocuments totaling a predetermined number of documents or apredetermined monetary value may be accumulated in a given storagecassette 207, whereupon the cassette may be removed and replaced with anempty storage cassette. In the illustrated embodiment, there are sixlower output receptacles 208 c-208 h which include escrow compartments205 and storage cassettes 207 a-207 f In alternative embodiments, thedevice 200 may contain more or less than six lower output receptacleswhich include escrow compartments 205 and storage cassettes 207. Inother alternative embodiments, modular lower output receptacles 208 maybe implemented to add many more lower output receptacles to the device200. Each modular unit may comprise two lower output receptacles Inother alternative embodiments, several modular units may be added at onetime to the device 200.

[0078] A series of diverters 237 a-237 f, which are a part of thetransport mechanism 206, direct the documents to one of the lower outputreceptacles 208 c-208 h. When the diverters 237 are in an upperposition, the documents are directed to the adjacent lower outputreceptacle 208. When the diverters 237 are in a lower position, thedocuments proceed in the direction of the next diverter 237.Alternatively, the operator may instruct the device 200 to directsubstitute currency media to one or more of the upper output receptacles208 a-208 b such that only currency bills are presented to the diverters237 a-237 f.

[0079] Additional details concerning the lower output receptacles 208c-208 h, the escrow compartments 205, and the storage cassettes 207 aredisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/502,666, entitled “Currency Handling System Having Multiple OutputReceptacles,” incorporated by reference above. It should be emphasizedthat the operator may also instruct the device 200 to direct substitutecurrency media to one or more of the lower output receptacles 208. Inthe illustrated embodiment, only currency bills are directed to thelower output receptacles 208, however, in alternative embodiments,substitute currency media could also be directed to one or more of thelower output receptacles 208.

[0080] In an alternative embodiment, the device 200 is dimensioned toprocess a stack of different sized currencies at the same time. In yetanother embodiment, the device 200 can also be dimensioned to process astack of different sized currencies and substitute currency media at thesame time. For example, one application may require the processing ofUnited States dollars (2.5 inches×6 inches, 6.5 cm×15.5 cm) and Frenchcurrency (as large as 7.17 inches×3.82 inches, 18.2 cm×9.7 cm). Theapplication may simply require the segregation of the U.S. currency fromthe French currency wherein the device 200 delivers U.S. currency to thefirst lower output receptacle 208 c and the French currency to thesecond output receptacle 208 d. In another alternative embodiment, thedevice 200 processes a mixed stack of U.S. ten and twenty dollar billsand French one hundred and two hundred Franc notes wherein the currencydocuments are denominated, counted, and authenticated. In thatalternative embodiment, the U.S. ten and twenty dollar bills aredelivered to the first 208 c and second 208 d lower output receptacles,respectively, and the French one hundred and two hundred Franc notes aredelivered to the third 208 e and fourth 208 f lower output receptacle,respectively. In other alternative embodiments, the device 200denominates, counts, and authenticates six different types of currencywherein, for example, Canadian currency is delivered to the first loweroutput receptacle 208 c, United States currency is delivered to thesecond output receptacle 208 d, Japanese currency is delivered to thethird lower output receptacle 208 e, British currency is delivered tothe fourth lower output receptacle 208 f, French currency is deliveredto the fifth lower output receptacle 208 g, and German currency isdelivered to the sixth lower output receptacle 208 h. In yet anotherembodiment, no call bills or other denominations of foreign currency,such as Mexican currency for example, may be directed to the secondupper output receptacle 208 b. In still another embodiment, suspectbills are delivered to the first upper output receptacle 208 a. Inanother alternate embodiment, U.S. currency and cashout tickets aredelivered to different output receptacles. These embodiments representjust a few examples of the numerous combinations of U.S. currency bills,foreign currency bills, and substitute media that can be delivered tothe output receptacles 208.

[0081] Additional details concerning the processing of foreign currencyare disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,259, entitled“Method and Apparatus for Discriminating and Counting Documents”(Canadian and German currency); commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,960,103, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Authenticating andDiscriminating Currency” (British currency); commonly assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/626,324, entitled “Currency HandlingSystem Employing an Infrared Authenticating System,” filed Jul. 26, 2000(Mexican currency); and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/179,573, entitled “Customizable International Note Counter,”filed Oct. 27, 1998, each of which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

[0082] In other alternative embodiments of the device 200, the user canvary the type of documents delivered to the output receptacles 208. Forexample, in one alternative embodiment an operator can direct, via thecontrol unit 216 (shown in FIG. 2), that a stack of one, five, ten,twenty, fifty, and one-hundred United States dollar bills bedenominated, counted, authenticated, and directed into lower outputreceptacles 208 c-208 h, respectively. In still another alternativeembodiment, the device 200 is also instructed to deliver other currencybills, such as a United States two dollar bill or foreign currency billsthat have been mixed into the stack of documents, to the second upperoutput receptacle 208 b. In still another alternative embodiment, thedevice 200 is also instructed to count the number and aggregate value ofall the currency bills processed and the number and aggravate value ofeach individual denomination of currency bills processed. These valuesmay be communicated to the user via the display/user-interface 217 ofthe device 200. In addition, or alternatively, these values arecommunicated to a remote device via a communications port (not shown).

[0083] In still another alternative embodiment, no call bills and billsthat are stacked upon one another are directed to the second upperoutput receptacle 208 b. In still another alternative embodiment, theoperator can direct that all documents failing an authentication test bedelivered to the first upper output receptacle 208 a. In anotheralternative embodiment, the operator instructs the device 200 to deliverno call bills, suspect bills, stacked bills, etc. to one of the loweroutput receptacles 208 c-208 h. In yet another alternative embodiment,the currency bills are directed to one or more of the lower outputreceptacles 208 c-208 h, no call bills and suspect bills are directed tothe upper output receptacle 208 a, and substitute currency media aredirected to the upper output receptacle 208 b. In another alternateembodiment, U.S. currency bills are directed to selected ones of thelower output receptacles 208, foreign currency bills are directed toother lower output receptacles 208, no call bills, suspect bills, andinvalid substitute currency media (i.e., media which cannot beidentified) are directed to the first upper output receptacle 208 a, andvalid substitute currency media are directed to the second upper outputreceptacle 208 b. Alternatively, a third upper output receptacle (notshown) may receive invalid substitute currency media so as to keep allsubstitute currency media separate from currency bills.

[0084] In still another alternate embodiment, genuine U.S. currencybills and foreign currency bills and identified substitute currency aredirected to selected ones of the lower output receptacles 208,unidentified substitute currency media are directed to the first upperoutput receptacle 208 a, and no call currency bills and suspect currencybills are directed to the second upper output receptacle 208 b. Inshort, the device 200 as illustrated having eight output receptacles 208a-208 h provides a great deal of flexibility to the operator. And inother alternative embodiments of the currency handling device 200 with afewer or greater number of output receptacles 208, numerous differentcombinations for processing documents are available. What outputreceptacle receives which type of document, whether a U.S. currencybill, a foreign currency bill, or a substitute currency medium, isentirely customizable by the operator.

[0085] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the variousoperations of the device 200 are controlled by processors disposed on anumber of printed circuit boards (PCBs) located throughout the device200. Further details concerning the PCBs are disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,666, entitled “CurrencyHandling System Having Multiple Output Receptacles,” previouslyincorporated by reference.

Document Processing Device Having a Single Output Receptacle

[0086] The evaluation region 104 shown and described in connection withFIGS. 1a and 1 b can also be incorporated into a document processingdevice having a single output receptacle. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate acompact document processing device 500 according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. This device 500 is shown and described in moredetail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,963 which isincorporated by reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, the device500 is modified to include an evaluation region 104 as shown anddescribed in connection with FIG. 1b. Documents are fed, one by one,from a stack of documents placed in an input receptacle 502 onto atransport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a transport plateor guide plate 606 for guiding a document to an output receptacle 608.Before reaching the output receptacle 508, the document can be, forexample, evaluated, analyzed, counted and/or otherwise processed by anevaluation region 604. In one embodiment of the device 500, documentsare processed at a rate in excess of 600 documents per minute. Inanother embodiment, documents are processed at a rate in excess of 800documents per minute. In yet another embodiment, documents are processedat a rate in excess of 1000 documents per minute. In another embodiment,documents are processed at a rate in excess of 1200 documents perminute. In still another embodiment, documents are processed at a ratein excess of 1500 documents per minute.

[0087] The device 500 in FIG. 5 has a touch panel display 516 in oneembodiment of the present invention which displays “functional” keyswhen appropriate. The touch panel display 516 simplifies the operationof the device 500. Alternatively or additionally physical keys,switches, or buttons may be employed, such as, for example, a keypad. Inone embodiment, the touch panel display 516 includes denomination keys,such as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,697,previously incorporated by reference. The operator may also manuallyenter, via the touch panel display 516, information about the substitutecurrency media, such as the information described above in connectionwith FIGS. 2-3.

[0088] A pair of driven stacking wheels 527 a and 527 b are located inthe output receptacle 508 and come into contact with the documents asthe documents are transported into the output receptacle 508. Thestacking wheels 527 a and 527 b are supported for rotational movementabout respective shafts journalled on a rigid frame and driven by amotor (not shown). Flexible blades of the stacker wheels 527 a and 527 bdeliver the documents onto a forward end of a stacker plate 652 shown inFIG. 6. In an alternate embodiments, the device 500 includes a stackingwheel 527 a only, a stacking wheel 527 b only, or neither a stackingwheel 527 a nor a stacking wheel 527 b.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the document scanning device 500 iscompact, having a height (H₁) of about 9½ to 10½ inches, width (W₁) ofabout 10¾ to 11¾ inches, and a depth (D₁) of about 12 to 16 inches.

[0090] Like the device 200 shown and described in connection with FIGS.2-4 b, the device 500 shown and described in connection with FIGS. 5, 6is adapted to halt or suspend operation when a no call or a suspect billor an invalid substitute currency medium is detected. An operator of thedevice 500 may specify via the touch panel display 516 the location ofthe unidentified document, such as the last document to be presented tothe output receptacle 508 before operation is halted or suspended. Theoperator may further manually enter information about the invalidsubstitute currency medium, such as the information described above inconnection with FIGS. 2-3. In an embodiment in which the device 500includes denomination keys, the operator may select one of thedenomination keys after inspection of a no call bill or a suspect bill,and resume operation as if the no call bill or suspect bill had not beenflagged.

Document Processing Device Having Dual Output Receptacles

[0091]FIGS. 7a and 7 b illustrate an exterior perspective view and aside cross-sectional view, respectively, of a compact, documentprocessing device 700 having dual output receptacles. The process forcarrying documents through the device 700 is the same as discussedabove, except that the device 700 has first and second outputreceptacles, 708 a, 708 b, respectively. A diverter 760, shown in FIG.7b, directs the documents to either the first or second outputreceptacle 708 a, 708 b. When the diverter 760 is in a lower position,documents are directed to the first output receptacle 708 a. When thediverter 760 is in an upper position, documents proceed in the directionof the second output receptacle 708 b. Details of devices with multipleoutput receptacles are described in WO 97/45810 which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

[0092]FIG. 7b shows a pair of stacker wheels 727 a, 727 b for deliveringdocuments to the first and second output receptacles 708 a, 708 b.However, in alternate embodiments, the device 700 includes the stackerwheel 727 a only, the stacker wheel 727 b only, or neither the stackerwheel 727 a nor the stacker wheel 727 b.

[0093] The device 700 includes an evaluation region 704, such as theevaluation region 104 shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1aand 1 b.

[0094] According to one embodiment the device 700 is compact having aheight (H₂) of about 17½ inches, width (W₂) of about 13½ inches, and adepth (D₂) of about 15 inches. According to another embodiment, thedevice 700 has dimensions of a height (H₂) of about 18 inches; a width(W₂) of about 13¾ inches; and a depth (D₂) of about 16 inches. Thedevice 700 may be rested upon a tabletop, countertop, desk, or the like.

[0095] Like the embodiments described above in connection with a devicehaving multiple output receptacles, the device 700 may be instructed byan operator via a control unit 716, which may include a touch paneldisplay or other suitable interface, to direct certain documents to oneor the other of the first and second output receptacles 708 a, 708 b.These modes may be pre-programmed or operator-defined. For example,according to one embodiment, genuine currency bills and valid substitutecurrency media are directed to the first output receptacle 708 a,whereas non-genuine currency bills and invalid substitute currency mediaare directed to the second output receptacle 708 b. According to anotherembodiment, genuine currency bills are directed to the first outputreceptacle 708 a, valid substitute currency media are directed to thesecond output receptacle 708 b, and the device 700 is programmed to haltor suspend operation when a non-genuine currency bill or invalidsubstitute currency medium is detected by the evaluation region of thedevice 700. In one embodiment, the control unit 716 may includedenomination keys, such as explained above. The control unit 716 mayalso be adapted to permit the operator to manually enter informationabout a flagged substitute currency medium, such as the informationdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 2-3.

Document Processing Device Coupled to a Coin Sorting Device

[0096] In another embodiment, the evaluation region 104 shown anddescribed in connection with FIGS. 1a and 1 b may be employed in adocument processing device according to any of the embodiments justdescribed which is coupled to a coin sorting device. In differentembodiments, the coin sorting device is adapted to sort coins only or acombination of coins and tokens.

[0097]FIG. 8 illustrates a functional block diagram of a documentprocessing device 800 coupled to a coin sorting device 8000 inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The documentprocessing device 800 includes a communications port 818 and acontroller 814, and is communicatively coupled to the coin sortingdevice 8000 via a cable 876. The coin sorting device 8000 includes acommunications port 8018 and a controller 8014. The communications ports818, 8018 may be any suitable communications port such as a serial orparallel port, USB port, and the like. In an alternate embodiment, thedocument processing device 800 and the coin sorting device 8000communicate wirelessly, and the cable 876 is not included. In thisalternate embodiment, the communications ports 818, 8018 are adapted toreceive and transmit information wirelessly.

[0098] An operator places a stack of documents into the documentprocessing device 800 for processing, and places a plurality of coinsand/or tokens into the coin sorting device 8000 for sorting andcounting. The document processing device 800 processes the stack ofdocuments, and the controller 814 in the document processing device 800stores information representative of the documents being processed, suchas the denomination of the currency bills, the value of the substitutecurrency media, the number of non-genuine currency bills, the number ofinvalid substitute currency media, and so forth. The coin sorting device8000 sorts and counts the coins or tokens, and the controller 8014 inthe coin sorting device 8000 stores information representative of thecoins or tokens being sorted and counted, such as the value anddenomination of the coins (penny, dime, nickel, etc.), the number andkind of tokens, and so forth.

[0099] In one embodiment, the stored information in the coin sortingdevice 8000 is transmitted to the controller 814 of the documentprocessing device 800. The document processing device 800 organizes andpresents the combined information to the operator via a display, such asa monitor or touch screen. In another embodiment, the stored informationin the document processing device 800 is transmitted to the controller8014 of the coin sorting device 8000, which organizes and presents theinformation combined from both devices to the operator via a display,such as a monitor or touch screen.

[0100] Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a coin sorter system9000. The coin sorter system 9000 includes a coin tray 9002 whichreceives coins of mixed denominations. The coins are sorted, counted,and are captured in a plurality of coin bins 9008 positioned on theexterior of the coin sorter system 9000. In an alternate embodiment, thecoins are captured in a plurality of coin bags.

[0101] The coin sorter system 9000 includes a control panel 9016. In theillustrated embodiment, the control panel 9016 includes a display 9076for displaying information about the coin sorter system 9000 and aplurality of keys 9078 for allowing the operator to enter information tothe coin sorter system 9000. In an alternate embodiment, the controlpanel 9016 includes a touch screen.

[0102] Additional details concerning the coin sorter system 9000 aredisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,418, entitled “HighSpeed Coin Sorter Having a Reduced Size,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,395,entitled “High Speed Coin Sorter Having a Reduced Size,” each of whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In one embodiment,the coin sorter system 9000 shown in FIG. 9 is modified to include acommunications port such as the communications port 8018 one describedin connection with FIG. 8. The coin sorter system 9000 may be furthermodified to perform the coin sorting and authenticating functionsdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,299,977, 5,453,047, 5,507,379, 5,542,880,5,865,673 and 5,997,395, each of which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Funds Processing Machine

[0103] In another embodiment, the evaluation region 104 of FIG. 1b maybe incorporated into a funds processing machine capable of processingboth documents and coins.

[0104] Referring now to FIG. 10a, a funds processing machine 1000includes a touch screen 1016 to provide inputs from a user and todisplay outputs to be viewed by the user. While the touch screen 1016 isthe preferred mode to enter data from the user, the funds processingmachine 1000 may also include a mechanical keyboard, in addition to orin lieu of the touch screen 1016, to receive such inputs.

[0105] The funds processing machine 1000 includes a coin receptacle 1044which receives coins of a single denomination or of mixed denominationsfrom a user. Additionally, an input receptacle 1002 is included withinthe funds processing machine 1000. The input receptacle 1002 isillustrated in its open position in FIG. 10a and may be retracted by thefunds processing machine 1000 once the bulk currency has been placedtherein by the user. These input devices 1044 and 1002 allow the user ofthe funds processing machine 1000 to input his or her funds which willultimately be converted to some other sort of fund source that isavailable to the user. In addition to banknotes, the input receptacle1002 of the funds processing machine 1000 can also accommodate casinoscript, paper tokens, or bar coded tickets.

[0106] The funds processing machine 1000 includes a dispenser 1008 a anda dispensed coin receptacle 1046 for dispensing to the user the desiredamount of funds in both bank notes and coins. A return slot 1008 b mayalso be included within the funds processing machine 1000 to returncurrency bills or substitute currency media to the user which cannot beauthenticated or otherwise processed. Coins which cannot beauthenticated may be returned to the user via the dispensed coinreceptacle 1046. The funds processing machine 1000 further includes adocument dispenser 1020 for providing a user with a receipt of thetransaction that he or she has performed.

[0107] In its simplest form, the funds processing machine 1000 receivesfunds (currency, coins, substitute currency media) via the coin inputreceptacle 1044 and the input receptacle 1002, and after these depositedfunds have been authenticated and counted, the funds processing machine1000 returns to the user an amount equal to the deposited funds but in adifferent variation of bank notes and coins. For example, the user ofthe funds processing machine 1000 may input $102.99 in various smallbank notes and pennies and in turn receive a $100 bank note, two $1 banknotes, three quarters, two dimes, and four pennies. Alternatively, thefunds processing machine 1000 may simply return a receipt of thetransaction or a barcoded ticket through the document dispenser 1020which the user can redeem for funds by an attendant of the fundsprocessing machine 1000. Alternatively, the funds processing machine1000 can credit a user's account.

[0108] The funds processing machine 1000 may also include a media readerslot 1042 into which the user inserts his or her identification card sothat the funds processing machine 1000 can identify the user. The touchscreen 1016 typically provides the user with a menu of options whichprompts the user to carry out a series of actions for identifying theuser by displaying certain commands and requesting that the user depresstouch keys on the touch screen 1016 (e.g., a user PIN). The fundsprocessing machine 1000 includes a card media reader device which iscapable of reading from or writing to one or more types of card media.This media may include various types of memory storage technology suchas magnetic storage, solid state memory devices, and optical devices.

[0109]FIG. 10b illustrates the funds processing machine 1000 in a sideview illustrating the various modules. The document processing module1004 receives documents from the input receptacle 1002 for processing.The inward movement of the input receptacle 1002 positions a stack ofdocuments at the feed station of the document scanning and countingdevice which automatically feeds, counts, scans, authenticates, andsorts the documents, one at a time at a high rate of speed (e.g., atleast 350 documents per minute). In place of or in addition to the inputreceptacle 1002, the finds processing machine 1000 may include a singledocument receptacle which receives and processes one document at a time.The documents that are recognized by the document processing module 1004are delivered to a storage area such as a currency canister (not shown).When a document cannot be recognized by the document processing module1004, it is returned to the customer through the return slot 1008 b.Exemplary machines which scan, sort, count, and authenticate currencybills as required by the bank note processing module are described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,196, 5,870,487 and 5,875,259, each of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0110] In place of or in addition to the input receptacle 1002, thefunds processing machine 1000 may include an input receptacle slot whichreceives and processes one document at a time. Such an input receptacleslot would be placed at the front of the funds processing machine 1000.

[0111] Additional details of the funds processing machine 1000 aredisclosed in commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/562,231, entitled “Currency Processing Machine with MultipleInternal Coin Receptacles,” which is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety.

[0112] In accordance with the present invention, the document processingmodule 1004 of the funds processing machine 1000 shown in FIG. 10b anddescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/562,231 is modified toincorporate the evaluation region 104 shown and described in connectionwith FIGS. 1a and 1 b. The user deposits currency bills and substitutecurrency media into the input receptacle 1002. As described in moredetail below, the funds processing machine 1000 may be communicativelycoupled to a casino gaming network. In such an embodiment, a casinocustomer may deposit a stack of casino cashout tickets and currencybills into the input receptacle 1002, and the machine 1000 queries thecasino gaming network for the payout amounts associated with the casinocashout tickets. This payout amount may be added to the customer's totalsuch that the customer is dispensed (via the dispenser 1008 a forexample) the total amount of currency deposited plus the value of anypayout associated with valid cashout tickets.

[0113] The funds processing machine 1000 also includes a coin processingmodule 1048. The coin processing module 1048 sorts, counts andauthenticates the mixed coins which are deposited in the coin inputreceptacle 1044 which leads directly into the coin processing module1048. The coins are sorted in the coin processing module 1048 in avariety of ways but the preferred method is a sorting based on thediameter of the coins. When a non-authenticated coin is determined bythe coin processing module 1048, it is directed through a coin rejecttube 1054 towards the dispensed coin receptacle 1046. Thus, the user whohas entered such a non-authenticated coin can retrieve the coin byaccessing the dispensed coin receptacle 1046. Coin sorting andauthenticating devices which can perform the function of the coinprocessing module 1048 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,299,977,5,453,047, 5,507,379, 5,542,880, 5,865,673 and 5,997,395, previouslyincorporated by reference. Alternatively, other coins sorters such as arail sorter can be used to perform the function of the coin processingmodule 1048.

[0114] The funds processing machine 1000 further includes a documentdispensing module 1040 which is connected via transport mechanism 1006to the dispenser 1008 a that is accessible by the user. The documentdispensing module 1040 typically dispenses loose bills in response to arequest of the user for such bank notes. Also, the document dispensingmodule 1040 may be configured to dispense strapped notes into thedispenser 1008 a if that is desired. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the user may select the denomination of the loose or strappedbills dispensed to the user. As noted above, the document dispensingmodule 1040 is modified in one embodiment to dispense both currencybills and substitute currency media. For example, in one embodiment, thedocument dispensing module 1040 may return to the user invalidsubstitute currency media. In addition, as mentioned above, the documentdispensing module 1040 may dispense a barcoded ticket which the customermay redeem for funds.

[0115] The funds processing machine 1000 also includes a coin dispensingmodule 1050 which dispenses loose coins to the user via the dispensedcoin receptacle 1046. The coin dispensing module 1050 is connected tothe dispensed coin receptacle 1046 via a coin tube 1056. Thus, the userof the funds processing machine 1000 has the ability to select thedesired coin denominations that he or she will receive in response to atransaction.

[0116] The coins which have been sorted into their denomination by thecoin processing module 1048 are sent to coin tubes 1058 which correspondto each specific denomination. The coin tubes 1058 lead to a coinreceptacle station 1052 for each of the denominations that are to besorted and authenticated by the coin processing module 1048.

[0117] The funds processing machine 1000 includes a controller 1014which is coupled to each module 1004, 1040, 1048, 1050 and 1052 withinthe funds processing machine 1000 and controls the interaction betweeneach module. For example, the controller 1014 may review the inputtotals from the funds processing modules 1004 and 1048 and direct anappropriate funds output via the funds dispensing modules 1040 and 1050.The controller 1014 also directs the operation of the coin receptaclestations 1052 as described below. While not shown, the controller 1014may also be coupled to a media reader associated with the media readerslot 1042 and also to a printer at the document dispenser 1020, if thesedevices are present in the finds processing machine 1000. The printer,for example, may print a barcoded ticket representative of the amount offunds deposited by the customer, or the printer may print a receipt ofthe transaction.

Document Processing Device Coupled to a Computer Network

[0118] According to another embodiment of the present invention, any ofthe foregoing systems may be communicatively coupled to a computernetwork, such as a casino gaming machine network or a retailer network.An example of such an embodiment will be discussed next.

[0119]FIG. 11 illustrates a host system 1190 coupled to a plurality ofdocument processing machines 1100 a, 1100 b, . . . 1100 n. The documentprocessing machines 1100 a, 1100 b, . . . 1100 n may be any device shownor described in connection with FIGS. 2-10 b. The host system 1190 isfurther coupled to a computer network 1192. The computer network 1192provides the host system 1190 with real time information, such asinformation relating to the demands for particular types of coinreceptacles and information about the substitute currency media detectedby the document processing machines 1100 a-n. In alternate embodiments,the computer network 1192 may be a casino gaming machine network or aretailer network. Each of these embodiments is discussed next.

[0120] In one embodiment, the computer network 1192 is a casino gamingmachine network and includes a database for storing information aboutbarcoded tickets that have been dispensed by the casino's gamingmachines. When a barcoded ticket is dispensed, the ticket number isstored in a database along with the payout amount. A barcode, such asbarcode 138 shown in FIG. 1b, encodes the ticket number and the payoutamount. When the barcoded ticket is deposited into the documentprocessing machine 1110, the evaluation unit 104 of the documentprocessing machine 1100 reads the barcode on the barcoded ticket. If avalid barcode is read, the document processing machine 1100 transmitsthe barcode number to the host 1190. The host 1190 queries the computernetwork 1192 for the payout amount associated with the barcoded number,and transmits the payout amount back to the document processing machine1100. The document processing machine 1100 adds the payout amount to therunning total of currency deposited by the operator into the machine1100.

[0121] Alternatively, the barcode numbers associated with barcodedtickets identified by the document processing machine 1100 are stored inthe document processing machine 1100. These numbers are periodicallyprovided to the casino gaming machine network 1192. The casino machinegaming network 1192 may include a casino accounting system. The numbersare matched up with the payout amounts stored in a database associatedwith the casino machine gaming network 1192, and the payout amounts maythen be reconciled in the casino accounting system.

[0122] In another embodiment, the casino gaming machine network 1192 isa retailer network that includes a retailer database for storinginformation about promotional media. For example, a retailer customermay deposit both currency bills and substitute currency media such asstore coupons or gift certificates into a self-checkout station at thepoint of sale. The documents deposited at the self-checkout stations aredeposited into a document processing machine 1100. Documents from cashregister tills may also be deposited into a document processing machine1100. The document processing machine 1100 rapidly processes thedocuments, and identifies the barcode numbers from the barcoded media.These barcode numbers are then transmitted to the retailer network whichdetermines the values associated with the barcode numbers (such as fiftycents off, or a $50 gift certificate) by querying the retailer database.These values are then reconciled in the retailer's accounting system.Optionally, these values may be transmitted back to the documentprocessing machine 1100 for display to the customer.

Operation of Document Processing Device

[0123] Turning now to FIG. 12, there is shown a flowchart describing theoperation of a document processing device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. Operation begins when an operator depositsdocuments into an input receptacle of a document processing device (step1200). Operation may commence automatically, such as when a sensordetects the presence of documents in the input receptacle, or manually,such as when the operator actuates a switch, key, or button on thedocument processing device. The documents may include a combination ofmixed currency bills and substitute currency media, or the documents mayinclude currency bills only or substitute currency media only.

[0124] In one embodiment, the input receptacle is adapted to receive astack of documents. In an alternate embodiment, the input receptacle isadapted to receive one document at a time. The deposited documents aretransported, one at a time, along a transport mechanism in the documentprocessing device. In step 1202, a first document is transported past amedia detector. In one embodiment, the media detector comprises abarcode reader adapted to scan for barcodes on a document. In step 1204,the media detector provides a signal representative of whether a validsubstitute currency medium was detected. For example, if the barcodereader provides a “good read” signal in response to scanning the firstdocument, the first document is a valid medium. However, if the barcodeprovides a “no read” signal, the first document is not a valid medium.If the first document is a valid medium, the first document istransported to an output receptacle (step 1206). Which output receptaclereceives the first document depends on which output receptacle has beenspecified according to a preprogrammed or operator-defined mode. Ifthere is only one output receptacle on the document processing device,then the first document is transported to that output receptacle.

[0125] Note that between steps 1204 and 1206, in one embodiment, thefirst document may be first transported to a bill facing mechanismbefore being transported to an output receptacle. According to one suchembodiment, the document processing device is adapted to determine whichorientation the first document is facing, and if the first document isfacing the wrong orientation, it can be transported to a bill facingmechanism. Alternatively, the desired face orientation can bepredetermined either by the manufacturer or the operator. In anotherembodiment, the first document is not transported to a bill facingmechanism.

[0126] If a valid medium is not detected at step 1204, the document istransported past a currency detector at step 1208. If the currencydetector detects an authentic currency bill (step 1210), the firstdocument is transported to a pre-selected or operator-defined outputreceptacle at step 1212. The document processing device can alsodetermine the denomination of the currency bill, and transport the firstdocument to the appropriate output receptacle according tooperator-specified instructions or preprogrammed instructions. In oneembodiment, a genuine currency bill may optionally be transported to adocument facing mechanism, such as the document facing mechanism 203shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for proper orientation before being transportedto an output receptacle if the currency detector determines that thecurrency bill is not properly oriented.

[0127] In another embodiment, steps 1208 and 1202 are reversed, suchthat a document is first transported past a currency detector and thenpast a media detector. In an alternate embodiment, steps 1202 and 1208(or steps 1208 and 1202) are performed before steps 1204 and 1210 (orsteps 1210 and 1204). In other words, in this alternate embodiment, thedocuments are transported past the media and currency detectors (in anyorder), and then the document processing device determines whether thedocument is a valid medium or authentic currency bill. Note that in anembodiment in which the document processing device has only a singleoutput receptacle, steps 1206 and 1212 are identical because both validmedia and authentic currency are transported to the same outputreceptacle.

[0128] At step 1214, the document processing device determines whetherit is instructed to halt on detecting an unacceptable document, i.e., adocument that is neither valid media nor authentic currency, such as ablank piece of paper. These instructions may be operator-specified orpreprogrammed. In another embodiment, the document processing device isadapted to determine whether an unacceptable document is an invalidmedium or a non-genuine currency bill, and can receive separateinstructions on handling each. If the device is instructed to halt ondetecting an unacceptable document, the operation of the device ishalted or suspended at step 1216 to permit inspection and/or removal ofthe unacceptable document. At step 1218, operation of the device isrestarted once the unacceptable document has been inspected and/orremoved from the document processing device, and operation continues ateither steps 1200 or 1222 depending on preprogrammed oroperator-specified instructions. In one embodiment, the operator may,upon inspection, determine a bill's denomination. In this embodiment,the operator may manually enter the denomination of a currency bill,such a via a denomination key, deposit the bill into an outputreceptacle, and resume operation. In another embodiment, the operatormay, upon inspection, determine information about the unacceptablesubstitute currency medium, such as the information described above.

[0129] Returning to step 1214, if the document processing device isinstructed to offsort unacceptable documents, the unacceptable documentis transported to the offsort receptacle at step 1220. The particularoffsort receptacle which is to receive unacceptable documents may beoperator-specified or preprogrammed. In an embodiment in which thedevice is adapted to discriminate between invalid media and non-genuinecurrency bills, the unacceptable document may be routed to one of twooffsort receptacles depending on what kind of unacceptable document wasdetected. This routing decision may be made under the control ofoperator-specified or preprogrammed instructions.

[0130] If there are no further documents to be processed at step 1222,the device may optionally display information associated with theprocessed documents at step 1224. This information may include anycombination of the following according to one or more differentembodiments: the total amount of authentic currency bills processed(e.g., $15,567); a breakdown of the denominations of currency billsprocessed (e.g., 140 $1 bills, 147 $5 bills, 268 $10 bills, and so on);the total number of valid media detected (e.g., 156 pieces of validmedia processed); barcode information detected from barcoded media(e.g., barcode number 12345678); the total number of flagged currencybills processed (e.g., 5 flagged bills, where 3 bills are no call bills,1 bill is a suspect bill, and 1 bill is both suspect and no call); thetotal number of invalid media detected (e.g., 16 pieces of invalid mediaprocessed); the total amount of media detected (e.g., $10,000 in mediaprocessed); the total number of unidentified documents—i.e., documentswhich were neither determined to be a currency bill nor a validsubstitute currency medium, such as a blank piece of paper forexample—detected (e.g., 27 pieces of unidentified documents processed);why a particular currency bill was not authenticated (e.g., 4 billsfailed magnetic strip test, 2 bills failed ultraviolet test); the totalnumber of documents processed (e.g., 11,253 documents processed); andother suitable information.

[0131] At step 1226, the device may optionally generate a report basedon some or all of the information displayed at step 1224. This reportmay be formatted and displayed to the operator, and/or it may beprinted, and/or it may be transmitted to a network computer for storageor further manipulation.

[0132] Note that in the embodiments described in connection with FIG.12, the device may further include a coin sorting device in which coinsare also processed. The information associated with the processed coinsmay be combined with the information associated with the processeddocuments. A single or separate reports may be generated based on theprocessed coins and processed documents.

[0133] Turning now to FIG. 13, there is shown a flowchart furtherdescribing the operation of a document processing device according toany embodiment described in connection with FIG. 12. At step 1300,documents are deposited into an input receptacle of a documentprocessing device. The documents may include a combination of mixedcurrency bills and substitute currency media, or they may includecurrency bills only or substitute currency media only. At steps 1302 and1304, the device determines whether a first document is a valid barcodedticket or whether a first document is an authentic currency bill. Notethat steps 1302 and 1304 can be performed in any order. If a document isdetermined to be a valid barcoded ticket, the barcode number associatedwith the barcoded ticket is stored in a memory location at step 1306. Atstep 1308, if a document is determined to be an authentic currency bill,the value of the currency bill is added to the value of all authenticcurrency bills scanned since step 1300. This value may be initialized tozero or may be initialized to some other number, such as a numberrepresenting the total amount of another batch of currency bills whichwas processed by the document processing device. If the first documentis determined to be neither a valid barcoded ticket nor an authenticcurrency bill, it may be processed at step 1310 in accordance with steps1214, 1216, 1218, and 1220 described in connection with FIG. 12hereinabove.

[0134] At step 1312, the device determines whether any more documentsremain to be processed. If there are, operation continues at step 1302until there are no further documents to be processed. If no furtherdocuments are to be processed, the device retrieves the valuesassociated with the stored barcode numbers from a computer network atstep 1314. Alternatively, after each instance in which the devicedetects a barcode number, the device may retrieve the value associatedwith the barcode number from the computer network. The computer networkmay be a casino gaming machine network or a retailer network, forexample. In a casino gaming environment, the barcode numbers may beassociated with barcoded cashout tickets. In the retailer environment,the barcode numbers may be associated with store coupons, giftcertificates, or other barcoded promotional media. In the casino gamingenvironment, one or more databases may be linked to provide informationabout the player who redeemed the ticket, when the ticket was dispensed,when the ticket was redeemed, and so forth, based on the barcode numberfrom a cashout ticket. In the retailer environment, one or moredatabases may be linked to provide information about the productassociated with the promotion, manufacturer data, and customerinformation based on data associated with customer loyalty cards, forexample. This information and the other information described inconnection with FIG. 12 may be included in a report generated by thedevice at step 1316. All or a portion of this generated report may bedisplayed and/or printed and/or stored or transmitted for laterretrieval or further manipulation.

[0135] Additional details concerning the operation of a documentprocessing device according to the present invention may be found inconnection with the description of FIGS. 1a-11 above.

Control Unit

[0136] Referring back to FIG. 1a, there is shown a control unit 116which may be employed in any embodiment shown or described herein. Aspreviously explained, the control unit 116 may comprise a desktopcomputer comprising a monitor and keyboard; a touch screen; or a panelincluding a display and keys, switches, or buttons. In addition, thecontrol unit 116 may comprise a touch/video display, which is describedbelow.

[0137]FIG. 14 illustrates a functional block diagram of a touch/videodisplay 1400 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thetouch/video display 1400 is a display that comprises a touch portion1402 and a video portion 1404. The touch portion 1402 of the display1400 operates as a touch screen, accepting input from the operatorthrough actuation of specific areas 1406, 1408 on the touch portion1402. The touch portion 1402 may also display information to theoperator. The video portion 1404 of the display operates as a videodisplay. For example, an operator of a document processing device inaccordance with any embodiment shown or described herein may needassistance in operating the device. In a training mode, for example, thetouch/video display 1400 would receive input from the operatorindicating a desired area of training (such as clearing document jams,for example) via the touch portion 1402 of the touch/video display 1400,and would display a video presentation, for example, of the desired areaof training on the video portion 1404. The video presentation coulddirect the operator to perform various tasks as part of the trainingmode, pausing to permit the operator to complete a task, and thenresuming when the operator so indicates by touching a specific area onthe touch portion 1402 of the touch/video display 1400, such as specificarea 1406. In alternate embodiments, the touch/video display 1400 may beemployed to provide interactive help or instructional presentationsregarding various operations of the document processing device, or tocommunicate messages such as advertisements or other information to anoperator.

[0138] As described above, an operator may select via the control unit116 any one of a multitude of preprogrammed or user-defined modes, suchas those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,795, entitled “Multi-PocketCurrency Discriminator,” and in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/635,181, entitled “Method of Creating Identifiable Smaller Stacksof Currency Bills Within a Larger Stack of Currency Bills,” and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/688,538, entitled “Currency HandlingSystem Having Multiple Output Receptacles,” which was filed on Oct. 16,2000, previously incorporated by reference. The operator may selectthese and other modes via an interface such as the control unit 116shown in FIG. 1 a and described above.

[0139] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention tothe particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A funds processing system including at least one funds processingmachine in which a user inputs currency bills and substitute funds, theat least one funds processing machine comprising: an input receptacleadapted to receive a stack of currency bills and substitute funds; aprocessing module coupled to the input receptacle and adapted to processthe currency bills and substitute funds; and a return receptacle coupledto the processing module and adapted to return the substitute funds tothe operator of the funds processing machine.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the substitute funds are casino script.
 3. The system of claim1, wherein the substitute funds are paper tokens.
 4. The system of claim1, wherein the substitute funds are bar coded tickets.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the processing module is adapted to scan and count thecurrency bills and substitute funds at a high rate of speed.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the high rate of speed is at least 350documents per ninute.
 7. The system of claim 1 further comprising: ahost system communicatively coupled to the at least one funds processingmachine; and a casino gaming network communicatively coupled to the atleast one funds processing machine and to the host system.
 8. A methodof processing currency bills and substitute funds using a fundsprocessing machine, the method comprising the steps of receiving in aninput receptacle a stack of currency bills and substitute funds, whereinthe substitute funds includes one of casino script, paper tokens, andbar coded tickets; scanning the currency bills and substitute funds in aprocessing module; and transporting the substitute funds from the inputreceptacle to a return receptacle.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thestep of scanning is performed at a high rate of speed.
 10. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising the step of communicatively coupling thefunds processing machine to a casino gaming network.
 11. A system forprocessing both currency bills and substitute currency media, the systemincluding a document processing apparatus, the apparatus comprising: aninput receptacle adapted to receive currency bills and substitutecurrency media; at least one output receptacle adapted to receivecurrency bills and substitute currency media after the currency billsand substitute currency media have been evaluated; a transport mechanismadapted to transport the currency bills and substitute currency media,one at a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one outputreceptacle along a transport path; an evaluation unit comprising atleast one currency detector disposed along the transport path betweenthe input receptacle and the output receptacle, the at least onecurrency detector being capable of evaluating currency bills, and afirst media detector disposed along the transport path between the inputreceptacle and the output receptacle, the first media detector beingcapable of evaluating substitute currency media; and a controllercoupled to the evaluation unit, the controller being adapted to controlthe operation of the transport mechanism and the operation of theevaluation unit.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising acommunications port electrically coupled to the controller.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12 further comprising a coin sorting apparatuscommunicatively coupled to the communications port of the documentprocessing apparatus, said coin sorting apparatus sorting and counting aplurality of coins into one or more coin hoppers, said coin sortingapparatus including communications means for communicating informationassociated with said counting of said plurality of coins.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller causes the transportmechanism to halt in response to the detection of a particular currencybill or substitute currency medium that meets or fails to meet one ormore criteria, wherein the halting causes the particular currency billor substitute currency medium to be located at a predetermined position.15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller flags a currencybill or substitute currency medium meeting or failing to meet one ormore criteria, the currency bill or substitute currency medium meetingor failing to meet one or more criteria being termed a flagged document,the apparatus further comprising a routing interface comprising a dataretrieval device, the data retrieval device receiving information from auser of the apparatus specifying a set of one or more output receptaclesto which flagged documents are to be directed.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 15 further comprising a control unit coupled to the controller,the control unit including denomination keys, each of the denominationkeys being associated with a different amount of currency, the selectionof one of the denomination keys causing the associated amount ofcurrency to be added to a running total amount of currency processed bythe device.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a controlunit coupled to the controller, the control unit being adapted toreceive information from a user of the apparatus and to displayinformation to a user of the apparatus.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the information includes characteristic information associatedwith a substitute currency medium.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18,wherein the characteristic information includes the value associatedwith a substitute currency medium.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18,wherein the substitute currency media are barcoded tickets having abarcode disposed thereon, each barcoded ticket having a ticket number,the characteristic information including the ticket number of thebarcoded ticket.
 21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the control unitincludes a touch screen.
 22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein thecontrol unit includes a video display.
 23. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the evaluation unit evaluates the currency bills and substitutecurrency media at a rate of at least about 1000 documents per minute.24. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the evaluation unit evaluates thecurrency bills and substitute currency media at a rate of at least about1500 documents per minute.
 25. The apparatus of claim 11 furthercomprising a document facing mechanism coupled to said evaluation unit,said document facing mechanism being adapted to rotate the orientationof the substitute currency media in one direction.
 26. The apparatus ofclaim 11 further comprising a second media detector disposed along thetransport path and proximate the at least one currency detector, whereinthe first media detector is adapted to detect at least onecharacteristic of a first type of substitute currency media and thesecond media detector is adapted to detect at least one characteristicof a second type of substitute currency media, the first type ofsubstitute currency media being different from the second type ofsubstitute currency media.
 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein thefirst type of substitute currency media includes a barcode encodedaccording to a first barcode symbology.
 28. The apparatus of claim 26,wherein the second type of substitute currency media includes a barcodeencoded according to a second barcode symbology.
 29. The apparatus ofclaim 11 further comprising a second media detector capable ofevaluating substitute currency media, the first media detector and thesecond media detector being disposed on opposite sides of the transportpath so as to be disposed adjacent to first and second opposing surfacesof the currency bills or substitute currency media passing along thetransport path.
 30. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least oneoutput receptacle is exactly one output receptacle.
 31. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein the at least one output receptacle is exactly twooutput receptacles.
 32. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at leastone output receptacle is at least eight output receptacles.
 33. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the media detector includes a barcodereader.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising memory meansfor storing information associated with at least one barcode identifiedby the barcode reader.
 35. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprisinga mirror proximate the barcode reader, the mirror being positioned todeflect a light beam outputted from the barcode reader onto the surfaceof a document being transported along the transport path.
 36. Theapparatus of claim 33, wherein the substitute currency media have abarcode pattern disposed on at least one surface thereof, and whereinthe controller is adapted to convert an electrical signal generated bythe barcode reader into a set of characters, the electrical signal beinggenerated in response to the scanning of a valid barcode pattern. 37.The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising: a memory coupled to thecontroller, the memory being adapted to store at least a first set ofcharacters provided by the controller; and a communications port coupledto the controller, the communications port being adapted to transmit theat least first set of characters.
 38. The apparatus of claim 11 whereinthe currency detector is adapted to detect at least one characteristicof a currency bill.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at leastone characteristic is one of size, thickness, color, magnetism,reflectivity, absorbability, transmissivity, electrical conductivity,and serial number.
 40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at leastone detection means is an optical scan head.
 41. The apparatus of claim38, wherein the at least one detection means is a magnetic sensor. 42.The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one detection means is asize detection sensor.
 43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the atleast one detection means is a density sensor.
 44. The apparatus ofclaim 38, wherein the at least one detection means is a thread sensor.45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one detection meansis an infrared sensor.
 46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the atleast one detection means is an ultraviolet scan head.
 47. The apparatusof claim 38, wherein the at least one detection means is a fluorescentlight scan head.
 48. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least onedetection means is a full image scanner.
 49. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the substitute currency media are barcoded media having abarcode on at least one surface thereof.
 50. The apparatus of claim 49,wherein the barcode is a linear barcode.
 51. The apparatus of claim 49,wherein the barcoded media are casino script
 52. The apparatus of claim49, wherein the barcoded media are casino cashout tickets.
 53. Theapparatus of claim 49, wherein the barcoded media are retailer coupons.54. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the barcoded media are giftcertificates.
 55. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the barcoded mediahave substantially the same dimensions as U.S. currency bills.
 56. Asystem adapted to rapidly count and evaluate currency bills and barcodedmedia, the barcoded media having a barcode disposed on at least onesurface thereof, the system comprising: an input receptacle adapted toreceive a stack of documents, the documents including currency bills andbarcoded media; at least one output receptacle adapted to receive atleast a portion of the stack of documents after the documents have beenevaluated; a transport mechanism adapted to transport the documents, oneat a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one outputreceptacle along a transport path; an evaluation unit including a firstsensor disposed along the transport path between the input receptacleand the output receptacle, the first sensor being adapted to detect atleast one characteristic of a currency bill, and a first barcode readerdisposed along the transport path between the input receptacle and theoutput receptacle, the barcode reader being adapted to scan a barcode;and a controller coupled to the evaluation unit, the controller beingadapted to control the operation of the transport mechanism and theoperation of the evaluation unit.
 57. The system of claim 56, whereinthe first barcode reader is adapted to scan at least 500 barcodes perminute.
 58. The system of claim 56, wherein the first barcode reader isadapted to scan at least 1000 barcodes per minute.
 59. The system ofclaim 56, wherein the first barcode reader is adapted to output anelectrical signal representing a barcode symbol, the controller beingadapted to convert the electrical signal into a barcode number.
 60. Thesystem of claim 59 further comprising memory coupled to the controller,the memory being adapted to store the barcode number.
 61. The system ofclaim 59 further comprising a communications port coupled to thecontroller, the communications port being adapted to communicativelylink the controller to a computer network.
 62. The system of claim 61,wherein the computer network is a casino gaming machine network.
 63. Thesystem of claim 61, wherein the computer network is a retailer network.64. The system of claim 62, wherein the controller is adapted toretrieve a monetary amount associated with the barcode number from thecasino gaming machine network.
 65. The system of claim 56 furthercomprising a control unit coupled to the controller, the control unitbeing adapted to display the number of barcoded media processed by theapparatus.
 66. The system of claim 65, wherein the control unit is atouch panel display.
 67. The system of claim 65, wherein said controlunit is a touch/video display.
 68. The system of claim 59 furthercomprising a control unit coupled to the controller, the control unitbeing adapted to display the barcode number.
 69. The system of claim 64,wherein the controller is adapted to add the monetary amount associatedwith the barcode number to a running total.
 70. The system of claim 69,wherein the running total includes the monetary value of at least onecurrency bill evaluated by the evaluation unit.
 71. The system of claim56 further comprising a second barcode reader coupled to the controller,the first barcode reader and the second barcode reader being disposed onopposite sides of the transport path.
 72. The system of claim 56 furthercomprising a printer coupled to the controller, the controller beingadapted to generate a report, the report including the total amount ofauthentic currency bills processed from the stack of documents and thetotal number of substitute currency media processed from the stack ofdocuments, the printer being adapted to print at least a portion of thereport.
 73. The system of claim 56 further comprising a printer coupledto the controller, the printer being adapted to dispense a barcodedticket to a user of the device.
 74. The system of claim 73, wherein thebarcoded ticket includes a barcode associated with the total amount ofcurrency bills and substitute currency media processed by the device.75. The system of claim 56 wherein the at least one output receptacle isexactly one output receptacle.
 76. The system of claim 56 wherein the atleast one output receptacle is exactly two output receptacles.
 77. Thesystem of claim 56 wherein the at least one output receptacle is atleast eight output receptacles.
 78. The system of claim 56, wherein thebarcode reader has a height of about 3 inches, a width of about 2.13inches, and a depth of about 1.63 inches.
 79. A document processingapparatus for processing a stack of currency bills and barcoded media,comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of documentsincluding currency bills of mixed denominations and barcoded media; aplurality of output receptacles each adapted to receive at least aportion of the stack of documents; a transport mechanism adapted totransport the currency bills and barcoded media, one at a time, from theinput receptacle to one of the plurality of output receptacles; anevaluation unit disposed along the transport path between the inputreceptacle and the plurality of output receptacles, the evaluation unitcomprising at least one currency sensor and a barcode reader positionedadjacent the transport path, the at least one currency sensor beingadapted to obtain denomination characteristic information of a firstcurrency bill, the barcode reader being adapted to scan for a barcode ona document from the stack of documents passing along the transport path,a document on which the barcode reader detects a barcode being termed avalid barcoded medium, a document on which the barcode reader does notdetect a barcode being termed an invalid barcoded medium; a controllercoupled to the evaluation unit, the controller being programmable fordirecting currency bills having a first denomination to a specifiedfirst output receptacle of the plurality of output receptacles, and fordirecting a barcoded media having a valid barcode disposed thereon to aspecified second output receptacle of the plurality of outputreceptacles; and a memory electrically coupled to the controller, thememory being adapted to store the denominations of the currency billsand the characters associated with barcodes on barcoded media.
 80. Theapparatus of claim 79, wherein the at least one currency sensor isfurther adapted to obtain authenticating characteristic information of acurrency bill, the controller being adapted to compare theauthenticating characteristic information with master authenticatinginformation stored in a memory, the controller being further adapted tocompare the denomination characteristic information with masterdenomination information stored in a memory, wherein currency billswhose authenticating characteristic information satisfies apredetermined relationship with the master authenticating informationare termed authentic bills, currency bills whose authenticatingcharacteristic information does not satisfy a predetermined relationshipwith the master authenticating information are termed suspect bills, andcurrency bills whose denomination characteristic information does notsatisfy a predetermined relationship with the master denominationcharacteristic information are termed no call bills.
 81. The apparatusof claim 80, wherein the controller is adapted to direct no call billsto a specified third output receptacle of the plurality of outputreceptacles.
 82. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the controller isadapted to direct suspect bills to a specified third output receptacleof the plurality of output receptacles.
 83. The apparatus of claim 80,wherein the controller is adapted to direct no call bills to a specifiedthird output receptacle of the plurality of output receptacles and todirect suspect bills to a specified fourth output receptacle of theplurality of output receptacles.
 84. The apparatus of claim 80, whereinthe controller is adapted to direct no call bills and suspect bills to aspecified third output receptacle.
 85. The apparatus of claim 80,wherein the controller is adapted to direct invalid barcoded media to aspecified third output receptacle
 86. The apparatus of claim 80, whereinthe controller is adapted to direct invalid barcoded media to thespecified second output receptacle.
 87. A document processing apparatusadapted to process currency bills and substitute currency media, theapparatus: an input receptacle adapted to receive documents includingcurrency bills and substitute currency media, the substitute currencymedia being redeemable documents; at least one output receptacle adaptedto receive at least a portion of the documents after the portion of thedocuments have been evaluated; a transport mechanism adapted totransport the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle to theat least one output receptacle along a transport path; an evaluationunit comprising at least one scanner disposed along the transport pathbetween the input receptacle and the output receptacle, the at least afirst scanner being capable of scanning for at least one characteristicassociated with a currency bill, the evaluation unit further comprisinga second scanner capable of scanning for at least one characteristicassociated with a substitute currency medium; and a controller coupledto the evaluation unit, the controller being adapted to control theoperation of the transport mechanism and the operation of the evaluationunit.
 88. A document processing apparatus for processing both currencybills and substitute currency media, the apparatus comprising: an inputreceptacle for receiving currency bills and substitute currency media; aplurality of output receptacles for receiving currency bills andsubstitute currency media after the currency bills and substitutecurrency media have been evaluated; a transport mechanism fortransporting the currency bills and substitute currency media, one at atime, from the input receptacle to one of the plurality of outputreceptacles along a transport path; an evaluation unit comprising ascanhead disposed along the transport path between the input receptacleand the output receptacle, the scanhead comprising a sensor forevaluating the currency bills and a barcode reader for evaluating thesubstitute currency media; a controller coupled to the evaluation unit,the controller controlling the operation of the transport mechanism andthe operation of the evaluation unit; and an interface coupled to thecontroller, the interface being adapted to receive instructions from anoperator of the apparatus specifying one or more of the plurality ofoutput receptacles to which currency bills and substitute currency mediaare to be directed.
 89. A document processing apparatus for processingboth currency bills and redeemable documents, the apparatus comprising:an input receptacle for receiving currency bills and redeemabledocuments; a plurality of output receptacles for receiving currencybills and redeemable documents after the currency bills and theredeemable documents have been evaluated; a transport mechanism fortransporting the currency bills and redeemable documents, one at a time,from the input receptacle to selected ones of the plurality of outputreceptacles along a transport path; an evaluation unit comprising adetector disposed along the transport path between the input receptacleand the output receptacle, the detector being adapted to detectcharacteristic information associated with a currency bill andcharacteristic information associated with a redeemable document; and acontroller coupled to the evaluation unit, the controller controllingthe operation of the transport mechanism and the operation of theevaluation unit.
 90. A method of processing both currency bills andsubstitute currency media in a document processing device, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving a stack of documents includingcurrency bills and substitute currency media to be evaluated in an inputreceptacle of the device; transporting each of the documents, onedocument at a time, past a currency detector and past a media detector;scanning each document to obtain characteristic information associatedwith a currency bill; scanning each document to obtain characteristicinformation associated with a substitute currency medium; determiningwhether each document meets or fails at least one criterion; anddirecting each document to at least one output receptacle based on thestep of determining.
 91. The method of claim 90 further comprising thesteps of: receiving information from a user of the device specifyingwhether the device should suspend operation based upon the detection ofa substitute currency medium failing to meet the at least one criterion;and suspending operation of the device in response to receivinginformation from the user of the device specifying that the deviceshould suspend operation based upon the detection of a substitutecurrency medium failing to meet the at least one criterion.
 92. Themethod of claim 90 wherein the device includes a plurality of outputreceptacles and wherein the characteristic information associated with acurrency bill includes denomination characteristic information, themethod further comprising the steps of: comparing the denominationcharacteristic information of the currency bill with a masterdenomination information; flagging the currency bill as a flagged billwhen the denomination characteristic information of the currency billfails to meet one or more criteria associated with the masterdenomination information; and receiving routing information from a userspecifying to which of the plurality of output receptacles the flaggedbill is to be directed, the step of receiving permitting the user todirect the flagged bill to a selected one of the plurality of outputreceptacles.
 93. The method of claim 92 further comprising the steps of:adding the value of the currency bills of one or more denominationswhose denomination characteristic information meets one or more criteriaassociated with the master denomination information to a running total;and displaying the running total to the user of the device.
 94. Themethod of claim 93 further comprising the steps of: receivingdenomination information from the user specifying the denomination of aflagged bill; adding the denomination of the flagged bill to the runningtotal; and resuming operation of the device.
 95. The method of claim 90wherein the device includes a plurality of output receptacles andwherein the characteristic associated with the currency bills includesthe authenticity of the currency bills, the method further comprisingthe step of receiving information from a user of the device specifyingto which of the plurality of output receptacles currency bills whoseauthenticity have been determined and currency bills whose authenticityhave not been determined are to be directed, the step of receivingpermitting the user to direct currency bills whose authenticity have notbeen determined to selected one or more of the plurality of outputreceptacles.
 96. The method of claim 90, wherein the characteristicinformation associated with the substitute currency media includesbarcode information, wherein the step of scanning each document toobtain characteristic information associated with a substitute currencymedium is carried out using a barcode reader, the method furthercomprising the steps of: decoding from a valid barcode a barcode numberrepresentative of the valid barcode; and storing the barcode number in amemory.
 97. The method of claim 90 further comprising the steps of:counting the total number of substitute currency media processed by thedevice; and displaying the total number to the user of the device. 98.The method of claim 97, wherein the displaying step is carried out usinga touch screen panel.
 99. The method of claim 96 further comprising thestep of displaying to a user of the device the barcode number.
 100. Themethod of claim 96 further comprising the step of retrieving from anetwork computer a value associated with the barcode number.
 101. Themethod of claim 100, wherein the value is an amount of currencyredeemable for cash.
 102. The method of claim 100, wherein the value isan amount of currency redeemable for goods or services.
 103. The methodof claim 100, wherein the value is a promotional discount.
 104. A methodof rapidly counting and evaluating currency bills and barcoded media ina document processing device, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a stack of currency bills of mixed denominations and barcodedmedia to be evaluated in an input receptacle of the device, the barcodedmedia being redeemable documents having a barcode disposed thereon;transporting the currency bills and the barcoded media, one document ata time, from the input receptacle to one of a plurality of outputreceptacles; determining the denomination of the currency bills;decoding the barcode numbers from valid barcodes disposed on thebarcoded media; storing the barcode numbers and the denominations of thecurrency bills; receiving information from a user of the devicespecifying to which of the plurality of output receptacles currencybills of one or more denominations and barcoded media having decodablebarcodes are to be directed; and directing the barcoded media havinginvalid barcodes to the offsort receptacle.
 105. A method of processingcurrency bills and barcoded media in a document processing device, themethod comprising the steps of: receiving a stack of currency bills ofmixed denominations and barcoded media to be evaluated in an inputreceptacle of the device; transporting the currency bills and barcodedmedia, one document at a time, from the input receptacle to one of aplurality of output receptacles or to an offsort receptacle; evaluatingthe currency bills including authenticating and denominating thecurrency bills; maintaining a total of the value of currency billsprocessed; maintaining a total of the number of currency billsprocessed; evaluating the barcoded media including scanning for a validbarcode disposed on the barcoded media; storing the barcode numbersassociated with the barcoded media having valid barcodes; maintaining atotal of the number of substitute media processed; and displaying to auser of the device information associated with the currency bills andinformation associated with the substitute currency media.
 106. Themethod of claim 105, wherein the information associated with thecurrency bills includes the total of the value of currency billsprocessed.
 107. The method of claim 105, wherein the informationassociated with the currency bills includes the number of currency billsprocessed.
 108. The method of claim 105, wherein the informationassociated with the substitute currency media includes the number ofsubstitute currency media processed.
 109. The method of claim 105,wherein the information associated with the substitute currency mediaincludes the value of substitute media processed.
 110. The method ofclaim 105 further comprising the steps of: retrieving from a networkcomputer the values associated with the barcode numbers, maintaining atotal of the value of barcoded media processed; and displaying to theuser of the device the total of the value of barcoded media processed.111. A method of processing currency bills and redeemable documents in asingle document processing device, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a stack of currency bills; detecting currency characteristicinformation associated with each currency bill; receiving a stack ofredeemable documents; detecting media characteristic informationassociated with each redeemable document; and storing the mediacharacteristic information in a memory.